“More Planes and Still More Planes”

Manawatu Times, Volume 68, Issue 221, 17 September 1943, Page 4

“More Planes and Still More Planes”

AMERICA’S MANPOWER PROBLEMS Received Thursday, 7.30 p.m. WASHINGTON, Sept. 15. ‘ ‘ Any curtailment, reduction or postponement of Army requirements will necessitate a change in the conduct of the war,” declared Lieutenant-General McNarney, Deputy Chief of Staff, testifying before the Senate Military Committee which is inquiring into the question of the call-up of fathers. General McNarney said the strategic commitments already made require a United States Army of 7,700,0C0 by the end ot the year. Senator Wheeler is pressing for action banning the call-up of lathers for military service. He said Canada’s action in disbanding 2J divisions appeared an irrefutable argument against the drafting of fathers in the United The Under-Secretary of War (Mr. Patterson) said “more planes and still more planes” is the cry arising from every point. He added: “I got it over there the other day from General MacArthur. ’ ’ Specifically opposing Senator Wheeler’s Bill postponing the induction of fathers, Mr. Patterson said if it were adopted the men inducted would necessarily be non-fathers doing skilled work in munitions plants, thereby causing plane production to go to pieces. He added: “With this would go our surest means of victory. Already the shortage of labour in aircraft plants is reducing plane output.” Mr. Patterson said he believed the only solution was the enactment by Congress of a National Service Act for compulsory manpower controls. Justifying the proposed call-up ol fathers members of the Army and Navy High Commands declared that estimates of manpower requirements for the Armed Forces had already been reduced by half a million for 1943 and cannot be reduced further without changing the United States strategical commitments and plans vital for a United Nations’ victory. Mr. Patterson, endorsing the compulsory manpower legislation, said Britain, New Zealand and Australia had adopted national service “greatly benefitting war production without damaging democratic institutions.”