Evening star., 1953-07-07
Defense MobiIizer
Explains Cutback in
Preparedness Plan
By the Asseciuied Pres,

The once OF DEFENSE MoblllZa-
ton today defended two recent
cutbacks in the preparedness
program as being in harmony
with its newly announced policy
of building and maintaining
broad industrial base for war
production.
ODM Director Arthur S. Flem-
ming said ODM was not con-
suited before the Air. Force can
celed Henry j. Kaiser's Willow
Run plant out of the Clio Ely
ing Boxcar" plane program.
But he said this was only
management problem" not one
having "a major effect on the
mobilization base"
The mobilizer gave prepared
answers to a score of questions
asked by newsmen in writing
on the mobilization policy state
ment issued last night after cab
met approval. The statement
commits the Government to de-
velop an industrial potential ca
pable of supporting an all-out
military effort, and designed to
reduce the huge plant costs and
two-year delay in full produc-
tion experienced in World War
II.
Reaffirms Truman Policy.
The program seemed generally
to reaffirm the broad mobili-
zation base" policy of the Tru-
man administration.
It called for the plugging of
any prospective gaps in ma
chinery. tools. equipment and
power, and for the systematic
maintenance" of idle plants and
machines which would be need
ed if mobilization day comes.
The goal, as summarized by
Mr.. Flemming is: IAN industrial
position, or plans for 1t. from
which we could move rapidly to
maximum rates of balanced out
put of war and, war-supporting
goods"
The statement has been ex-
pected for weeks. During the de-
lay industry's interest grew be-
cause of the disclosure that Sec
retary of Defense Wilson pre-
ferred a narrower" industrial
base for military production than
the Truman plans enviSaged.
Kaiser Case Explained.
Mr.. Flemming said the Kaiser
cancellations, ordered while a
Senate committee was probing
the plants costs, did not involve
the issue of maintaining plants
and equipment in readiness for
full mobilization.
1T may be necessary to close
secondary sources for various
reasons, such as poor efficiency
in operation, high production
costs, attainment of mobilization
stock reserves and production
rates." he said.
Willow Run was considered
secondary source because the
plane was originated. and was
being jointly produced. by Fair
child Aircraft Corp. at Hagers-
town, Md. Fairchild's unit cost,
the Senators said. was about one
fifth of Kaiser's.
Reporters also questioned Mr..
Flemming on Air Force cancel
lation of multimillion dollar
orders for seven monster hy-
draulic presses, designed to
squeeze out wing and fuselage
parts with record speed. While
these cancellations were pend
ing, they were attributed to
the Eisenhower administrations
economy program.
Re-evaIuatiOn Cited.
Mr.. Flemming. however. at
tributed them to a re-evaluation
of the heavy press program in
the light Of chronological de-
velopmentS. Here, also. the
mobilization base was not in
volved, he said.
The mobilization policy of the
Eisenhower administration, as
enunciated by Mr.. Flemming,
calls for the filling of any gaps
in the country'S machinery, tools,
equipment, power and materials
supply which would be needed
for all-out war: and for the
systematic maintenance" of idle
war production equipment when
not in use.
The statement calls, at the
outset, for a calculation of how
much production would be avail
able for military use in the first
three years of war. after SUBJ