ALLIED VICTORY PROGRAMME

Southland Times, Issue 24759, 2 June 1942, Page 5

ALLIED VICTORY PROGRAMME

rroauciion vnieis To Confer (Re. 6.30 p.m.) NEW YORK, June 1. Plans for a joint British-American victory production programme will be laid at the White House when Mr Oliver Lyttelton, British Minister or Production, arrives on Monday for a series of conferences with President Roosevelt, Mr Harry Hopkins, the Lease-Lend Administrator, and Mr Donald Nelson, the American Production Chief, the Washington correspondent of the New York Times. An agreement has already been reached changing the existing British-American war organization. A combined production planning committee has been established, headed by Mr Nelson and Mr Lyttelton, or the latter’s delegate, to organize and direct the victory programme. In addition, a combined food committee has been created headed by the Secretary of Agriculture, Mr Claude R. Wickard, and Mr B. H. Brand. Though steps have already been taken towards co-ordinating British and American arms production, notably regarding tanks, it is admitted that both countries are still operating their own separate establishments and their programmes do not coincide completely. For example, they have developed a surplus of certain types of munitions and a deficit in others. FUTURE STRATEGY KNOWN

Mr Nelson and Mr Lyttelton intend to remedy the situation. This can be done now because British and American military officials have a clearer

vision of the coming strategy than a month ago. They know roughly where and when they want to strike the Axis. Therefore, they are able to give the production officials specific guidance regarding the planes, tanks, weapons and ammunition needed for the great offensive.

It remains for Mr Nelson and Mr Lyttelton to fit British and American war production into a victory programme, also to deal with the transportation problem, which is now a major limiting factor in an all-out offensive. The problem of increasing production in areas close to the world battlefields as a means of conserving shipping space is high on the agenda conversations. For example, everything possible will be done to increase the output of arms in Britain and Australia, even if it is necessary to ship American machine tools to those countries. The increased flow of trans-Atlantic air-borne freight will also be discussed, as well as the development of common types of war equipment, so that the British and American armies can use each other’s weapons.

AEROPLANES FOR FAR ' EAST

WASHINGTON, May 31.

The American Aeronautical Chamber i of Commerce says that official reports concerning the manufacture and allocation of aeroplanes indicate that three, major efforts are in 'the offing:— ’ (1) The establishment of an aerial supply line to China. (2) Military measures with a view to driving the Japanese from Burma. (3) A large-scale air offensive against the Japanese from India. It adds that at least six types of the most modern aeroplanes are already smashing against the Japanese from India or are preparing to attack from there.