The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-12-02
Destruction of Three Million
Tens to Be Met by Ameri-
can Activities
ALL SHIP
RECORDS BEING BROKEN
By End of 1918 United States
Will Have Launched Six
Million Tons, According to
Program

Washington. Dec. 1.-The Germans
have sunk more British ships in the
first ten months OF their unrestrict-
ed U-boat warfare than Great Britain
or any other nation ever has built
In a full year
This and other startling revelations
were made today when Senator Gil
bert NJ. Hitchcock. of Nebraska, wade
public a detailed letter he had re-
ceived from Chairman Edward N.
Hurley OF the United States shipping
hoard, showing the status of the
American shipbuiiding program. Fig
ures compiled from official reports
show that the Germans have sunk
something over 900 British vessels
OF more than 5000, 900 dead weight
IN ten months
Chairman Hurley Informed Senator
Hitchcock that the greatest ship
building feat anv nation had ever &C
complished was that of England IN
1913. whom sss vessels OF 2 Sas.29a
tons were corapleted. The Japanese
in 1914. Mr.. Hurley said built fortv-
three shins of 1e2.9a3 tons. This
wss the biggest tonnage finished by
any nation except Great britain.
TIE American programe, unless y
is held I'm b. unforeseen events viii
rroduce 8 0na 600 tons nv the END Of
,fafs. or this amount about 5000 =
ano tons will he comn'eted IN 1918
alone. thus surnass'nE Great Britain's
best e~2~t by about milton tons.
T1at-sls Of The program were forward
ed TO Senator Hitchcock in reply TO
his request TO information.
The United States now has avail
able for trans Atlantic service $50
-slffrssof total cr aT4f.sas tons In
ciussnv forueer German and Austrian
vessels and oil tsnkers.
Much Pror~rSs Nade.
Mr.. Hurley showed that between
January ! and Tune Of tht= year
srr1ericar, wards had huilt 5as a2e tons.
Of this total fftv-ftye vessels were OF
steel, 430 ha4 tons while thirtv-two
ware ~ wood seventv-two a2s tons.
In this spree rer'od Mr.. Hurle~ stat
~ contracts yvera nsaee for s94 new
siasns of-a grand sgrresase OF z.Ts4,-
rat tops.
Senator Hitchcock asked for de-
tails on the labor Question and on
FRICTION between shin huflAers, the
govern n, ert ard the steel men.
Mr.. Hurley referred h'rr, to The de,
~a-tr,e,t OF laho~ e.>d refusad 10 go
'nto details publicly on the other
questions
In ~eolv - ouestions REGARDING the
activities ~ the new shfnvards Mr.
rr,,~Ie-- declared that an o. them that
have contracts NOW have the wound
cleared md VIII have tNe'r buildings
ara WAYS com nleted ready 10 start
actual construction work or the 10y
sole thew are ta rrosuce ~ rfv IN 1A'',
The new Hog T@ta~s yard r7s'st de-
yixrc~ estv st{rs he s,,~e %over.rfser !,
,ats he ss'd ard the Port Newark
v~,ri Y,,ust r,1rntsN, seven IN June. The
New p-'stnl Point rlant must have
four s+,trs read for sarv'-n IN Nav
r-n+r,r1 adr' eYober hftsr 7 fsto
Senator Hitchcock savs his uues-
tfor. were desis-q~d rart'allv to en-
shI~ him 10 get information for this
snnafe's program and partly 10 en-
able him ~ comnare sh'peufd'NS
prosress with the losses due TO the
Garnan submarine eamna'~-e. Ne
asked only one question on the latter
point however.
..fIave anv British. French Nor
werian. italian or Holland authorities
vet asserted that thew are now build
ing new shi~s as fast as the suoma-
r,nes are d.StrovinR them ?"
Chairman Hur,ey's reply WAS
short but emnhatic no" IT will be
mr. 10 the United States. he indicated
In his figures, to produce new ships
faster than the Germans sink them.
providing losses are not pulled down
by the allied navies.