Show I r GENERAL HUGH s. s S JOHNSON J Jr 4 l P Un Washington D. D D C. C MILITARY RY BURDEN It is astonishing to find in my mail and to hear in talk talk most most re re- recently recently re- re recently here among leading industrialists industrialists industrialists at the convention of the Na Na- National National National Association of Manufacturers a a sort of half formed opinion that if we can keep out of war either by aiding Britian to preserve her em em- empire empire empire pire by some sort of peace acceptable ble to her or by aiding her to do much more we can avoid the con con- continuing continuing continuing necessity and burden of maintaining an army and navy in in- invincible invincible invincible in every area in which our national safety is or may be en en- That is a cruel illusion We have slept too long on our rusting arms Force and not good faith is the rule in the world today It is only real real- realistic realistic realistic for us to recognize that With its resources reasonably organized and mobilized for war this is the strongest nation on earth Stronger than any probable combination of other nations Considering its strategic position I behind two oceans it can become impregnable in this hemisphere But it can do so only if it is and re re- remains remains re- re remains mains so organized and mobilized It can do so only if it confines its defense to the areas in which its strategic territorial advantage ex ex- At this war-dance war stage of world conflict as in any war leaders on both sides say their only war aims and the only basis of peace is the complete com lete destruction and subjugation tion of its enemy In the present balance of power that is most unlikely un un- likely Hitler with the military equipment of all Europe accumulated ed in many countries through years of rearmament in his hands and his heel on the necks of all the fighting peoples is little likely to be com com- completely completely completely dislodged on land in Europe without a vast internal upheaval which now seems unlikely Yet Hitler with little distant na na- naval naval na- na naval val strength and many many and territorial handicaps is little likely completely to destroy either the British navy or the British em em- pire Suppose this is wrong Suppose a peace of complete conquest subjugation subjugation subjugation gation and revenge were imposed upon either side as it was at Ver Ver- Versailles Versailles Versailles sailles or a century earlier at Vi Vi- enna Would either result result result-a a con con- conquered conquered conquered peace or a negotiated truce create a condition in which after both these lessons we could ever rely on anything less than our own strength completely adaptable to any military or naval problem in our own defense in this hemisphere It is a vain hope We should aid Britain to the full extent that does not involve us in a war for which we are not remotely ready carrying carry carry- carrying carryIng Ing ing financial obligations that could rum ruin us and with an equally important important important tant to qualification to the full extent that it can be done without post post- postponing postponing postponing our own rearmament for any eventuality out eventuality out all rearmament on onland onland onland land sea and in the air and out all-out preservation of our great financial and industrial solidarity and strength We are not following this rule or we are following it too slowly with too many exceptions and too many blunders Every informed observer in Washington knows that our de de- defense defense de- de defense program of production is about 30 per cent behind the most pessimistic advance schedules DEFENSE PRODUCTION Bill Knudsens Knudsen's speech at the Na Na- National National National Society of Manufacturers was like a breath from a mountain top topon topon topon on a muggy day He was a practical practical practical production man talking their language He was an honest man mixing the bitter with the sweet and handing it out with the bark off Production lags Our machine for defensive manufacture is not on an out all-out basis It doesn't mean any any- anything anything anything thing to report the production of so-and-so so many airplanes or ships unless you tell what types you are talking about Some are big and complicated Some are little and simple Two years before he was called to Washington or even mentioned elsewhere for that purpose this col col- column column column began to urge that the govern govern- government government government ment make use of Mr Knudsen in inthe inthe inthe the speciality in which he is a verita verita- veritable veritable veritable ble genius That speciality is the tha mechanical aspects of production in inthe inthe inthe the American model of vast mass output through factory organization and method The present program now that so many of the contracts have been placed is now moving into exactly that phase In that phase you could sift s t America with a meshed fine-meshed sieve and find no bet bet- better better better ter man for that job But that is not the whole job It Itis Itis Itis is only one part of the whole job The whole job is insurance of the flow of materials power labor finance and transportation It is careful watchfulness of the procure procure- procurement procurement procurement ment program of the various gov gov- government government government agencies themselves to keep them in balance and to prevent duplications wires cross-wires counter- counter bidding and waste through It is is also a constant vigilance for forthe forthe forthe the supply of civilian needs Mili Mili- Military Military Military tary and naval needs must have an absolute right of way but we should not create hardships elsewhere |