The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-03-16
TEN GREAT SHIPS
Continued from First Page. J

the nation is confronted by an "emer-
gency." Under the contracts, the navy
department can require the builders
to employ the maximum number OF
men that can be used In work on the
ships.
Newport News to Build Two.
The battle cruisers contracted for
will be the largest ana the fastest
vessels OF this type ever laid down
for any navy In the world. The navy
department believed that under the
arrangements made today the ships
will be completed in three years. A
nth battle cruiser, authorized by
congress. will be built In the govern
ment navy yard at Philadelphia. Two
OF the big ships will be built at New
port News. Va. one by the New York
Shipbuilding company and one by the
Fore River Shipbulding company.
The scout cruisers were awarded, two
to the William Cramp company. two
to the Union Iron works at San Fran
cisco. and two to the Seattle Construc-
/ ton company. The award of these
contracts closes a controversy which
for two years has held up big naval
construction because the shtpbuilders
declared that appropriations made by
congress would not prol erly compen-
safe iHFIn LOT HulfUlHg tfp SflfD9.
More Americans Endangered.
| AS preparations for placing the ma
ton on a war basis went steadily on.
he state department today continued
to receive alarming reports from the
| submarine zone Sworn statements
/ transmitted by Consul Washington
| at liverpool. reported the sinking
without warning OF the British steam
| err Memnon Dakar. with three Ameri-
cans on hoard All there were saved
| The dispatch read:
"Captatn Br'sco. Chief Officer Bar
low, british subjects and Matthew
Hill. OF Gainesville, Tex: Charles Ed
ward Woods. 14s Fourth street, Port
and. Ore, and Jacob Simon. SIS
Brook street, Staten Island the latter
sixteen wears Of age only Americans
on board. assert that the British
steamer Memnon Dakar left Hull
February 20, cargo palm oil and gen.
eral. unarmed. Afternoon March 10
was torpedoed without warning.
Rollers exploded Six crew killed In
the explosion. Crew abandoned ship
The Memnon sank in ten minutes
Submarine emerged. presumably Ger
| man. asked name ship. what cargo
whore from. owne-'s name. demanded
rhpers- Captain replied PAYERS lost
and asked where the nearest land Law,
Submarine reniied northeast twenty
two miles to Portland light. Actual
position WAS TWENTY-FIVE miles No
vessels sighted. Were picked up at
midnight"
Other Similar Act.
Two Americans were placed in
Hainault was sunk on March IL
eighty miles west OF Fastnet. Consul
Frost Mt Queenstown reported, Her
man Pinto, Of Princess Ann. Md. and
Francisco Rodriguez, OF ~ Van vordt
street. BROOKLYN. were among the
thirty-six members Of the crew saved.
Further details of the sinking OF
the American steamer Algonquin
were reported to the department by
Consul stevens at Plymouth. who
forwarded the sworn statement of
Captain Noraberg. of the Algonquin.
rhe ALGONQUIN. according to the re-
port. carried the American rag at
her stern and likewise carried great
American smblems painted on her
r'des. After Smelling the ALGONQUIN.
while the crew was taking to the
boats. the submarine crew boarded
the abandoned vessel and sunk her
with bombs, The captain OF the SUBJ
marine. according to Captain Nord-
rergs account refused TO rescue the
Algonquin crew because che expected
Two other ships and was too busy"
All OF these incidents are being
compiled bv tho state department in
a consecutive detailed statement
which wifi be faid before President
Wilson when ne prepares the address
which he win make to congress at the
opening OF the extraordinary. session
cn Anrtt