WAR PRODUCTION

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 307, 25 September 1939, Page 10

WAR PRODUCTION

Activities Of British Supply Ministry , J NATIONAL FACTORIES Press Assn, and British Official Wireless. RUGBY. September 22. In announcing in the House of Commons the names of those who will act under his chairmanship as the new Council of Supply, Dr. Burgin, Minister of Supply, gave iu broad outline a description of the activities of his Ministry. He revealed the extent to which industry has already been placed on a war basis. Sixty-eight firms are now engaged in shell production beyond those normally engaged in this work. Seven hundred firms are engaged in making shell components, and 6500 contractors are now working for the Ministry. Nine thousand firms are either working or ready to turn over to war production. Tiie Supply Minister declared that a system of national factories iu effect has been brought into being. At the beginning of tiie defence programme four ordnance factories existed. Up to the outbreak of war 18 more were added, aud since then six further had been added. In addition, a large number of private factories had. been fitted with Government plant for the purpose of war production. Regional Direction. As a further step toward the mobilization of industrial resources to meet war needs where these resources are at present iu reserve, the country has been divided into thirteen areas, ensuring that problems such as labour, transport, and overlapping are dealt with speedily and with full knowledge of local conditions. Regional directing organizations are now being set up by the Ministry of Supply. Stress will be laid on the need for machine tools, upon which the country s war production so much depends. By supplying such tools reserve resources can make a contribution of vital importance. Meanwhile, officers of the Ministry of Supply are surveying plant, floor space, and other essentials to ensure that no productive capacity' which can •be used or adapted for use in the war effort is neglected. The first demands on supply have been .met. An example of what has been done is the equipment of the field force. The equipment provided Inis in fact more than satisfied the demands. In addition to what was required for immediate use, great reserves are already available to meet expansions and to replace inevitable wastage. While these and other short-term requirements. have been satisfied,, the larger task of expanding the mobilization of the nation’s resources for longterm prosecution of the war is being energetically tackled. Resources ot stocks, plant, and skill not already serving war needs are being directed to their spheres of greatest usefulness. Mr. Arthur Greenwood (Labour) criticized Dr. Burgin’s speech on the ground that the machinery outlined by him was too bureaucratic. He would prefer to see industrialists and manufacturers themselves organizing industry for the maximum war effort rather than civil servants. Price Stabilization. The Federation of British Industries emphasizes the importance to its members that the prices of common articles should be stabilized as far as possible, and that any increase in prices which is not related to increased costs should be avoided. „ The President, Mr. Peter Bennett, has sent a letter to the Prime Minister informing him of this action, and adds that the federation is not exploiting the rearmament situation. The Ministry of Information states that in order to facilitate the equitable distribution of butter during the period pending the introduction of rationing, all butter registered in eold stores, all imports, and all butter manufactured in Britain will be requisitioned tomororw. It will later be disposed of through normal trade channels. , , The Ministry of Food has prohibited dealings, except under licence, in certain foodstuffs. STRAIN OF LIFE ON A HUNTED U-BOAT Human Factor As Weakness In Blockade (British Official Wireless.) (Received September 24, 7.10 p.m.) RUGBY, September 23. . A description of life in a hunted Üboat drawn from details supplied by men with first-hand knowledge of the conditions in submarines throws interesting light on the question of how effective the submarine weapon is likely to prove apart from the successes obtained before the defence preparations. Submarines are very vulnerable because damage trivial to a surface ship may render submersion impossible, and a. U-boat on the surface is easy prey. An attack by depth charges is a most demoralizing experience, aud the strain with the explosions coming closer ami closer is almost intolerable, the crew well knowing that the next one may sink them for ever. Hunted by destroyers aud patrol craft, for ever searched for by aeroplanes, and conscious always of mines and mined nets, the strain is terrible. Neither do the living conditions ease the situation. Even on the surface the boat must always be trimmed down for instant diving. On the deck space above water only three men can stand and all the others below are cabined and confined in an oppressive and often foul atmosphere. No matter how great the capability of the submarine men. living in a perpetual nightmare of suspense and anxiety, they tire long before the machinery. The opinion of experts is, therefore, that, though Britain may endure great losses, submarines alone can never maintain an adequate blockade. U.S. ESPIONAGE ACT (Received September 24, 9.30 p.m.) WASHINGTON, September 23. A section of the Espionage Act has been revived compelling agents ot foreign Governments to notify the .State Department of their activities. New regulations have been issued requiring the registration of foreign Embassy members engaged iu political activity.