Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1917-04-20
MERCHANT FLEET
TO BEAT lj-BOATS
May Build Food Carriers al
Rate Of Three a Day.
COCKTAILS TO DIRECT WORK
Huge Merchant Marine Will Destroy
Faith in Submarines and May Even
Win the War.


Win the War.
President Wilson has decided Amer
ica's first physical stroke against Ger
many.
1t is a campaign Of colossal proper
tons to break down the submarine
blockade and keep tho entente plenti'
fully supplied with food, clothing ana
munitions.
Unable to send an army into the
trenches at this time, the president
believes the United States can do an
even greater service IN the common
cause by providing great armada
OF merchantmen to invalidate the
Prussian undersea campaign.
For weeks officials have been work
ing on the plan, but not until now has
il been revealed on how great scale
the task has been projected, or now
great Importance is attached TO 1t III
the administration war program.
Virtually every detail now has been
completed and by fall the campaign
itself will he in full swing. Many Of
fcials believe it may attain a suprem'
acv over the submarine which VIII
prove the decisive victory Of the great
war.
Quickly bHilt, light wooden ships Of
20GO tons and upward are to make up
the feet of merchantmen. To insure
maximum construction, the shipping
board has enlisted the cOuntry's entire
shipbuldng facilities, now the great
est in the world. More than a hun
drcd private plants on all the coasts
will help. giving the boards orders
precedence over every other class OF
work except most urgent naval con
struction. For the first year produc
ton is expected TO reach an average
of three ships day.
Already lumber interests have given
assurances Of al adequate supply OF
timber at reasonable prices. Engine
manufacturers have pledged their co
operation, ard all necessary machfn
erv for the vessels can b. assembled
as fast ~ they can he turned out al
the Yards. At more than one plant
new ways are now under construction
to take care Of government building
orders.
The shining board estimates thai
10000 men viii he needed to work
all the plants to capacity, and to com
platc the binding in the time deter
mined on. The total Is nearly ter
times the nrr:bor Of laborers now en-
rloyed in building merchant craft il
this country
Volunteers for this class of public
service, it is pointed out. need not be
experienced in shipbuilding. Com
paratiyely little expert labor will be
required for TIE type Of wooden YES
sells to be hntIt. within a few days
the board will establish labor bu
reau to enlist volunteers.
Major General George w. Goethals
builder Of the Panama canal, has beer
selected 10 supervise the construction
program. which is expected to involve
within the next year total Of three
million tons. or more than now L
building in all the shipyards in the
world.
Built for the most part Of pine anc
fir. the ships will range from 2OoO tt
$500 tons. Most Of them probably
will be equipped with oil burning en-
gines, and all will carry wireless anc
he armed. The engines will be stand
ardized, as far as possible, so that
damaged parts may be replaced
abroad. T. necessary.
An average cost Of about 100000 6
sh:o Is v0Gnted On by the board. Each
will carry crew of about thirty-fiVe
men.
The first Of the vessels are to be
ready in about six months. During
the year following. the number afioat
is expected to pass 1000. Such mum
Der, Officials believe, constantly IN
creased in HE months that follow
will render it impossible for Germany
to maintain her blockade with any de
gree of effectiveness.