CARGO PLANES AND SUBMARINES

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 265, 7 August 1942, Page 5

CARGO PLANES AND SUBMARINES

American Investigation (Received August 6, 7 p.in.) WASHINGTON, August 5. The War Production Board Committee has concluded its investigation of the problem of cargo planes, and has submitted three major recommendations. They are:—First, the output of cargo planes should lie at least doubled through an increase in the present procurement and the conversion of certain bombers' to cargo planes; secondly, further impetus in the development of long-range land and sea planes; . and thirdly, a, large increase in the manufacture of transportation of petrol for the forthcoming greatly expanded cargo movement by air. The chairman, Senator Lee, said that the military’ sub-committee of the Senate, after hearing evidence in camera from naval and military’ experts, had come to the conclusion first, that the Army has made a fair balance between cargo and combat planes; secondly, that increased sinking of ships threw a heavier burden on cargo planes which had been met by the use of bombers; thirdly, that Mr. Henry Kaiser, West Coast shipbuilder, should be authorized to build 70-ton Mars flying-boats in his shipyards; ■ and fourthly, that the Higgins shipyards in New Orleans should be completed and devoted to the construction of cargo submarines. Stressing the importance of cargo planes, Senator Lee said that some American bombers were now grounded in Australia and Africa because of lack of spare parts. This showed the need for cargo planes with a view to speeding up transport of materials to the fronts. Lieutenant-General Henry H. Arnold, Chief •of the Army Air Forces, told the sub-committee that the output of cargo-carrying planes was being stepped up in an all-out programme. The Army was now using some of its long-range bombers for cargo transport and a certain percentage of bomber construction would be diverted to long-range cargo planes. He would welcome a proposal for the mass construction of aerial freighters, using the rolling assembly lines and shipyards, provided the materials now going into the Liberty ships could be utilized. Senator Truman also presented the committee’s report on a vehicle important to the success of any invasion attempt. He declined to reveal its details, but said it was essential to the landing of tanks. In an interview. Senator Truman said that tens of millions of dollars had been wasted by the Navy’ Department in developing a certain military vehicle. Afterward, Mr. Higgins had submitted a successful design, but the Navy’ Department insisted on using models of its own design despite their repeated failures.