New Britain herald., 1917-10-10
CONTRACT IS LET
FOR DESTROYERS
Navy Will Get 787 Ships, Costing
$1,150,400,00o

washington, Oct. 10-Secretary
Daniels has awarded contracts to five
shipbuilding companies for the con-
struction of $350,0O0,OO0 worth of de-
stroyers. This is the biggest contract
for vessels of this type ever awarded
by any government. When these de-
stroyers have been completed it is
expected that the United States will
have the largest fleet of destrovers
in the world.
With the award of these contracts
the war construction program of the
American navy was brought to a
total OF 7S7 vessels, including all types
from superdreadnoughts to submarine
chasers. Some vessels have been fin
ished in the last few weeks and are
now in service. The rest of the pro-
program is being pushed to compile
ton as rapidly as possible is esti-
mated at s1,150,4OO.oO0.
Commenting on the contracts
awarded today, Secretary Daniels
said:
These destroyers will be built by
five companies which have had ex-
perience in building this type-the
Fore River Shipbuilding corporation,
Boston; the New York Shipbuilding
Corporation, Camden, N. j.; Cramps
| oIlpy cLiuS, IllaOClpllld, C1lC 4NSW pOIC
News shipbuilding and Dry Dock
company, Newport News, Va, and the
Union Iron Works, San Francisco.
''This is the biggest project we have
ever undertaken. Three months ago
| 1t looked as if it could not be done.
| Orders had already been given for
all the destroyers the yards could
build, and almost as many as the
| new program calls for are now under
,. construction or contract. To build
rapidly the additional destroyers re-
quires a great extension of shipbuild-
ing facilities and the erection of new
plants for building engines. The COM
panies were unwilling to invest mil
lions in these additions. so the gov
ernment must build and will own the
new plants and extensions which will
be used by the builders.
I'VE are putting every energy and
facility behind this project. Some Of
the new destroyers are promised for
delivery in nine months, all within
eighteen months. These vessels will
be of the latest and largest improved
type, which has just been tried in our
service and found to be unsurpassed
by any destroyers in the world. The
plans are all ready, and the adoption
of a uniform type will enable us to
reduce the number of types Of en-
gines and parts and to turn them out
in much less time. The principal
trouble is in getting forgings and
auxiliaries, but the manufacture OF
these has been arranged for, and
we will make every effort to prevent
delay in delivery of materials or ma
chinery.
Thousands Of men will be required
now busy training them. By the time
the vessels are completed the crews
will be ready. The spirit of the mer
in the navy-officers and enlisted mer
is such that the destroyer service
r appeals to them. and many more thar
, enough to make up the complement:
apply for service in this type of ship
which is the best weapon af1oa
against the submarine menace"
The total number Of destroyers tt
be built is held to be a military Sc
cret. The work has been apportione'
t | according to the capacities OF tn
l | existing plants and the auxiliar,
| plants the navy depa rtment will erect
ALI of the concerns have built de
stroyers for the government before
The awards of contracts were limited
, | to companies prepared to rush tn
! work. The appOrtlOnment was mao
under mutual agreement, with an un
derstanding concerning the plants t.
. | be put up by the navy department., blu
= to be operated by the companies.
= The basis Of the price for the con
, struction, Mr.. Daniels said, was cos
: plus, with guarantees that the cos
should not be above a certain figur
and, IL below that figure, the com
t panies to receive a bonus. A grea
= quantity Of material has been assem-
2 bled for the work. but there are still
/. serious, but not insurmounta BILE, diff
l ficulties in the way. To solve these
which relate principally to the suppl