THOUSAND A WEEK

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 May 1942, Page 3

THOUSAND A WEEK

OUTPUT OF AIRCRAFT IN U.S.A. LITVINOV GIVES FACTS TO RUSSIA. HUGE PRODUCTION OF TANKS & SHIPS. (Bv Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) LONDON, May 18. M. Maxim Litvinov, the Soviet Ambassador to the ■United States, in a broadcast from Washington to the people of the Soviet Union, described the enormous industrial strength of the United States. He gave these facts. United States aircraft factories are now turning out more than 1000 planes a week; one tank factory alone is turning out a heavy trainload of tanks daily, and ships are being launched from 60 different shipyards in the United States. Mr Paul McNutt, a former United States High Commissioner in the Phillippines, and now one of the leaders in the organisation of United States war industry, told reporters in Washington yesterday that by the autumn of this year United States factories would be turning out one plane every four minutes, and one tank every seven minutes, and two ships a day would be launched from United States shipyards. In a commentary today, Mr Oliver Stewart, well-known broadcaster on air warfare, mentioned that a factory in the United States is turning out one Consolidated-Liberator bomber every hour.

Recorded developments in American aircraft production show how the President’s goal of 60,000 machines in 1942 is being carried out. Production exceeded 2000 in October, and by the end of December 5000 engines a month were comng off the assembly Ines. Floor space in factories then occupied 45,000,000 square feet, compared with 850,000 in 1939, and it is being increased to 80,000,000 this year. Whereas 194,000 workers were employed in January, 1941, there were 326,000 in December. By this autumn the number is expected to exceed 700,000. The output in 1942 is expected to be double last year’s in value. American officials stated that in December the output of engines surpassed Germany’s and the production of aircraft would exceed Germany’s early in the spring of 1942. This point has .bow been left behind.

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Rayburn, said recently that the United States is producing 3300 aircraft a month. These figures are seen in London in the light of Mr Churchill’s recent statement that this year the British and American bomber offensive against Germany will be one of the principal features of the war. It is pointed out that the devastating raids already carried out have been the work of the Royal Air Force alone. DEPENDENT ON STEEL OUTPUT OF NEW SHIPS IN U.S.A. THREE LAUNCHINGS A DAY IN AUTUMN. (Received This Day, 11 a.m.) NEW YORK, May 19. The Washington correspondent of the “Journal of Commerce” says that if the Maritime Commission obtains the steel needed, President Roosevelt’s goal of 15,000,000 tons of merchant shipping this year will be exceeded. While 36 ships were completed in April, over 50 will be finished in May and ship launchings of three daily will be reached by the autumn.