Gearing Up

The pressure and pinch of U.S. mobilization were at last beginning to make themselves felt:

Goods: The use of copper and brass in making 300 civilian products was sharply restricted. After March 1, copper may not be used to make, among other things, pots & pans, jewelry, automobile trimmings, furniture, and household electrical equipment. Civilian use of cobalt--valuable as a steel alloy for cutting tools--was cut by two-thirds. Beginning Feb. 1, every purchase of more than 25 lbs. will need Government approval. The cobalt pinch will be felt in radios, television sets, refrigerators and all enamelware household appliances; it is likely to knock out color TV for the duration.

Crude rubber henceforth may be imported only by the Government, which will do all the buying & selling in an attempt to stabilize the price, which soared from 18-c- a lb. a year ago to a high of 85 1/2-c- on Nov. 8. This will not bring on tire rationing, said the National Production Authority, because just as much crude rubber will be imported as before.

Hoarding of more than a "reasonable" supply of 55 defense-vital materials (aluminum, hog bristles, etc.) was banned.

Men. The Army decided to call up 9,740 more Reserve and National Guard officers to active duty within three months, including 7,420 lieutenants and captains (100 of them WACs).

The Army also set a draft quota of 80,000 men in March, the most in any month since the Korean war began.

Controls. The Economic Stabilization Agency announced that it would open 13 regional offices, obviously getting set to enforce price and wage controls when necessary.

The Federal Reserve Board raised the reserve requirements of some member banks to the legal limit and others almost to the limit. The board hoped to dry up $12 billion in potential bank loans.

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