U.S. PRODUCES MORE PLANES

Southland Times, Issue 24460, 13 June 1941, Page 5

U.S. PRODUCES MORE PLANES

1834 MACHINES IN MAY SCHEDULE EXCEEDED (Rec. 8.5 p.m.) WASHINGTON, June 11. The Office for Production Management announced that 1834 planes had been produced in May. The production for April was 1493 and for March it was 1216. The director of the office, Mr W- S. Knudsen, told 200 aircraft manufacurers that their production was 50 per cent, ahead of schedule and by next fall they would be producing all the aeroplanes wanted.

The War Department approved projects costing 282,314,000 dollars for four new ammunition plants and the expansion of 10 others. Aluminium scrap and zinc have been included in full priority control. The civilian use of zinc will be rationed shortly. Because of the aluminium shortage the Allison division of General Motors, where liquid-cooled plane engines are being made, has laid off 800 workers. Production is being resumed tomorrow at the five aluminium plants at Cleveland.

The United Press correspondent learns from Congessional sources that a division of marines and a division of army infantry have been given equipment priorities to permit the rapid creation of a potential American Expeditionary Force, although there are no immediate plans for sending a force from America. The information coincided with inquiries from Portugal regarding President Roosevelt’s intention to defend the Azores and Cape Verde against any Axis attack. The divisions will be given first call on equipment. The trained men would form the infantry components of a task force if President Roosevelt decided to take over Martinique or Portuguese islands.