GRAVE WARNING TO AMERICANS

Southland Times, Issue 24818, 10 August 1942, Page 5

GRAVE WARNING TO AMERICANS

Call For Greater Production

(Rec. 6.30 p.m.) WASHINGTON, Aug. 7. The Office of War Information, reviewing America’s first eight months of war, declared that American war production was still insufficient for victory and gave a warning that toe war could be lost unless everyone did his utmost. “It is certain we are not going to win without heavy losses of men,” it stated. The Office of War Information revealed that American production in June was slightly behind schedule in fighting planes, tanks, most types of artillery and naval vessels, particularly small anti-submarine craft. Although American production was amazing compared with toe standards of a few years past, it was not enough to win toe war. The Office of War Information emphasized that to win a total war Americans must fight it totally. They were not yet fighting as hard as that. High-lights of toe review were:— (1) If toe Axis inflicts cripplmg blows on our Allies in 1942 toe war will be decided in some future year, not now foreseen, and victory will be far more costly. (2) The Allies have carried most of toe load. We have not given them l as much help as we led them to expect. (3) Even if ship-building continues rising and sinkings decrease, it will be late in 1943 before we again have as much merchant shipping as we had on December 7, 1941. (4) The initial disasters at Pearl Harbour and toe Philippine airfields cost us plenty. „ , „ (5) The victories of toe Coral Sea and Midway, while brilliant, were defensive victories. (6) The American military forces are disposed where toe military commanders believe they will get toe maximum results. When we cannot be strong and hit hard everywhere we must hit hard where it counts, even at toe price of leaving other areas inactive. Popular pressure for action on a specific front does not serve a useful purpose. MR WILLKIE MAY VISIT WAR ZONES (Rec. 6.30 p.m.) NEW YORK, Aug. 8. The Washington correspondent of The New York Times reports that Mr Wendell L. Willkie will probably leave soon for a flying trip to the Middle East and Russian battlefronts. Mr Willkie conferred at length with President Roosevelt. ..Later he refused to reveal whether toe President had given permission for toe dramatic trip. However, informed circles believe toe Government intends to take full advantage of the propaganda value of such a demonstration of national unity as would be provided by a visit to the fighting fronts by toe defeated Republican presidential candidate, who vigorously supports the President’s foreign policy.