The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-06-09
c0ATR0vERS OVER
COCKTAILS ACTION IS
GROWING ACUTE
Two Engineers Discharged From
Shipping Board Claim Their Chief
Killed Wooden ship Plan.

Washington, June S.-Charges
made by Fred y. Eustis ana + Hunt
ington Clark, the two engineers as
signed to the United States emergency
fleet corporation, that General George
w. Gaethals head of the corporation.
hiss i>tlie3 the wooden ship program.
developed these sensational features
today,
! General GoethaIs dismissed
Messrs Clark and Eustis for lack
of LOYALTY and misstatement and mis-
representation of facts
The shipping commisson-par
cnt Of the fleet corporation-after a
two-hour session over the contro-
Nerse}. refused TO abide by General
Gotheals' summary action and retain
ed Mi Eustis. This action was re-
earded as ostensibly giving approval
10 he attitude taken by Mr-Eustls IN
favor Of wooden ships and quick con-
structon
3-Nlr Eustis in a statement. de-
clared he would accept dismissal
gractously because he has put the
plain truth before the country and
he wants every one to know the peril
I-Mr Clark says that the effect
Of publishing the truth to the coun-
try is that now the ships will be built
He viii continue the fight as private
citizen.
5-Shiphuilders in secret confer
ence here today decided to bring suit
against the government In different
cities. claiming General Goethals has
repudiated contracts verbally agreed
upon and causing them heavy loss in
time and money
arthur Macarthur. one Of the
largest general contractors in the
| nited States says that 5000. 600 tons
of wooden ships can easily be built
In year and others can deliver ships
in November II told to 60 ahead now
controversy Grows Delicate.
Jhe shipping . board CONTROVERSY
came 10 lis long expected open break
today General GoethAls. angry over
the assertions of Mr. Eustis and Mr.
Clark that he had killed the wooden
ship program discharged both men.
NJ Clark took his dismissal grace
fully. SO did M Eusts Rut the
shipping commission did not It held
long session. and at the end an
houtcea that MIR t.ustiz would rot no
dismissed that they had all conf
donce in him
The entire controversy il is believed
throughout official circles here tonight.
viii he carried ultimately to congress
y hste The Mooden- ships td4 aeAtes IA
defend their claim they are best tn meet
the German submarines in the barred
zone. whether the matter viii be taken
mp by a special investigating commit
tees or reach the Capitol in the discus
sions Of the Joint conference commit
tee considering the urgency deficiency
bill providing $3.50 00o 000 for construct
ing ships Is not Yet known
General Cocktails in his letter dis.
missing Messrs. Clark and Eustis takes
issue with them on a question Of fact
in relation TO their charge that IN IN
slsting upon fiat rate contract he Rad
killed the wooden snip plan. Tie further
states that the design for building
" OGDEN ships Quickh did not meet the
requirements Of competent naval
architect employed TO inspect them.
Upon receiving n copy Of General
Gcethals letter. MIR. Clark gave out
for publication a letter written sv
Theodore Ferris. the architect employ.
ed by General Goethals. in which Mr.
Ferris approved the Hough design