Victory Program

From President Roosevelt last week came the first detail of his new Victory Program (TIME, Oct. 27)--designed to raise U.S. defense sights so high that they will not soon again, as in the past, have to be constantly shifted higher. The President's announcement: Congress will soon be asked for funds to double the tank-building program (presumably to provide about 25,000 more medium tanks, smaller but impressive numbers of heavy and light tanks).

The rest of the program, drafted by the War Department's general staff, is not yet ready for unveiling. But it is certain that there will be a doubling of the $61,052,000,000 now appropriated for Army, Navy and Lend-Lease production, an attempt to compress the present 1942-43 program into a single year, an attempt to swing 50% of next year's national income to armaments instead of the 25% now contemplated.

The Victory Program means civilian curtailments beyond anything yet dreamed of by U.S. citizens, increased burdens (and a demand for increased efficiency) upon the defense agencies for production, subcontracting and priorities. By 1943 the U.S. should be not only an arsenal but an armed camp.

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