BRITISH ARMS OUTPUT

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23914, 5 April 1943, Page 3

BRITISH ARMS OUTPUT

LARGE INGREASB j SHOWN

SECRET WEAPO34S : DEVELOPED (8.0. W.) RUGBX, .April,*, The Minister of Production (Captain Oliver Lyttelton) said to-day ttfiifmore than four times more heavy Sbjnbers were produced in February in Britain than in February last year. Bje added that iti the last quarter of 1J)42 the ‘‘structure weight” of akcralt.piroduced was about 75 per cent higher than the average quarterly produdt&n ip 19$$ By the fourth quarter of 1943 fhe rafe of output of all weapons, ajnmpifitiyn, and warlike stores was double raft average rate of 1941. About one-third of British pcodmr tion was now of weapons which dEjjnot exist except in the imagination of their inventors when war broke 03ft Others were coming on and were htql ing developed all the time. These were Britain’s secret weapons. Captain Lyttelton said that, in §pUe of the increasing difficulties arising from the further demand of the sags vices for manpower from factories.a Sot slipways and-the present necessity ij£ conserve raw materials in order to sajj& shipping space for .military use, rafe increase had continued into die present year. The output of munitions of ap sorts in February was about 40 pgr cent, greater than in February, 194$ and was still expanding. This increased output had largely been achieved by developments w scientists and industrial engmeets, St creased efficiency of labour, and tna increased efficiency in management. : Captain Lyttelton said that itVcouM be predicted without much danger rasa the days of desert warfare were numbered, and that Britain must look forward to fighting in enclosed- country with roads, rivers, and railways.