The Washington herald., 1917-06-19
ENGLAND after
WOODEN Ships
Ready to Let Contracts for
: Fleet Which Goethals
Opposes.

England is prepared to let contracts
in this country for wooden ships that
can be quickly built and delivered In
large Quantities on a manufacturing
basis. Any ship and every ship. II
il is only a tub that Will go TO pieces
after one voyage. will be taken by
the British government to stop the
gap caused by submarine destruction
until more substantial vessels can be
found to take their place.
These are the concrete results Of
Lord Northcline's visit to Washing
ton last week which became known
here yesterday. The British govern
meat, however, IoCs not intend 10 take
any steps that will interfere with the
building program planned by the
United States.
General contractors. who had orfgin-
ally come TO Washington prepared 70
undertake the construction Of LOU
wooden ships for this government, and
who had about given up hope OF Sc
curing these contracts owing 10 the
opposition OF Gen. Goethals, general
manager Of the emergency fleet cor
poration, were quietly advised yester-
Gay that wooden ships will be built
They were not advised as TO whether
the proposed purchaser was the United
States or Great Britain.
Chairman William Denmau- of the
Shipping Board. saw President Wilson
yesterday at the White House. He
denied that his call had anything 10
do with the slleEed Controversy over
the basic price for steel 20 be fixed
N making contracts fer the steel ships.
Mr.. Denman added that his appoint-
pent with the President had been
made last Wednesday, that the con-
tracts, which he lad refused TO sign
were not sent up TO him until Friday
and that as a matter Of fact, his con-
ference with the President was for the
PURPOSE OF discussing an 'fnterna-
tional matter"
Some Contracts Let.
Yesterday Gen. GoethaIs sent I'd ten
contracts for ships. with the hasio
price Tor steel fixed at SIS a ton in
stead OF $S5 as II had been originallv.
chairman Denmsn signed the new
conracts.
President Wilson did not DESIGNATE
any person or commission that viii
nave authority TO spend the 500. GnO. 600
appropriated by Congress for the new
merchant fleet This action. when il
comes, Is generally expected TO settle
the controversy OF whether tie gov
ernment Will build 10000 tons of
wooden ship in addition to S.OO0. 900 tons
OF steel ships that il cOntemplates
building in the next eighteen months
or whether the number Of wooden
ships will be cut down to about one
fifth that number.
Following Chairman Denman's ron
ference with the President, Gen. Goe-
thals called up the White House and
an appointment with the President
was arranged for next Friday. Ia IA
not believed that President Wilson
Will designate any one 10 have COM
plete authority oSrer the shipbuildinR
program until after that time. How
ever. II was pointed out yesterday
that Congress. in making the appro-
prtatton, recommended that the au-
monty Tor spending IL be delegated
70 the Emergency Fleet CORPORA tion.
As Chairman Denman holds $ per cent
Of the capital stock Of the corporation
Tor the government. such designation
II is taken here, would mean that the
wooden ship program will 20 through
as originally scheduled.