The Shrink in Wool

One quick glance at the Army’s new demands for warm clothing and blankets, along with tires (see below), convinced the War Production Board of the need for drastic action. Last week WPB ordered textile mills to set aside for the Army and essential civilian use all worsted yarns (for gabardines, twills, etc.) produced after Jan 14. Soon, WPB is expected to order 50 to 60% of all woolens set aside for the military.

The reasons why the Army had to revise its requirements sharply upward:

¶ The late summer drive from the Channel ports to the German border had been so rapid that the troops were forced to travel light. Extra clothing and blankets were cast aside. At the front, house-to-house fighting and barbed wire wore uniforms to tatters in less than a month. At one time, the need for more blankets was so great that they were collected from U.S. camps and shipped to the war fronts.

¶ French and Italian troops drew heavily on U.S. supplies, while captured Nazis also had to be supplied.

¶ In the Pacific, light cotton uniforms turned out to be unsuitable as the Army moved north into the tropical rain belt. So cotton is being replaced by wool.

The freeze of worsteds is scheduled to last until June 2. This will not affect consumers immediately. But it will probably mean less tropical weight worsteds for men’s suits next summer, and a reduction in woolen goods for all civilians next winter. Deepest cut will come in blankets, women’s wool suits and dresses, men’s suits and overcoats, underwear and socks. The worsted and woolen shortage will increase demands for cotton and rayon, thus will affect the entire supply of clothing.