U.S. ARMS PRODUCTION

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 20824, 1 July 1942, Page 5

U.S. ARMS PRODUCTION

GENERAL MOTORS’ PART Although no figures were given, Mi - . C. E. Wilson, president of General Motors, has' revealed that of the United States colossal arms programme, General Motors alone will produce one-third of all the machine guns, about half of the army trucks, more than half of the navy’s Diesel engines, 40 per cent of America’s aviation engines, three different types of complete war planes, a substantial quantity of anti-tank guns, as well as many other items. General Motors are quoted by Time (March 30, 1942), as being America’s No. 1 arms producer. New Zealand, Russia, England, Australia, and Allied forces on all fronts have a lot to thank the American automotive industry for. The automobile industry is used to quick and revolutionary changes. When the greatest change was asked of them—a complete jettisoning of civil production—they responded in a manner which has been responsible for sending America’s arms production soaring. To-day, the automobile industry of America is producing 20 per cent of America’s total war production, and of America’s whole war production, General Motors alone is responsible for 10 per cent.