The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-04-12

Washington, April IA campaign
of colossal proportions to break down
the German submarine blockade and
keep the entente plentifully supplied
with food, clothing and munitions has
been determined upon by President
Wilson and his advisers as Americas
first physical stroke against her en-
emy
Unable now to send an army into the
trenches, the president believes the
United States can do an even greater
service in the common cause against
Germany by providing a great armada
of merchantmen to invalidate the
undersea campaign about which have
been rallied the fading hopes of Prus-
sian conquest.
For weeks officials have been at
work on such a plan but not until to-
day was it revealed on how great
scale the task had been projected or
how great importance was attached to
it in the administrations general war
program. Virtually every detail now
has been completed and by fall the
campaign itself will be in full swing.
Many officials believe it may attain
a supremacy over the submarine which
will prove the decisive victory of the
great war.
Light 2.00O-Ton Ships.
Quickly built, light wooden ships of
1000 tons and more are to make up
the fleet of merchantmen and, to in
sure maximum construction the ship
ping board has enlisted the country's
entire shipbuilding facilities, now the
greatest in the world. Upward of a
hundred private plants on all the coasts
will help, giving the boards orders
precedence over every other class of
work, except the most urgent naval
construction. For the first year pro-
duction is expected TO reach an aver
age of three ships day.
Already lumber interests have given
assurances of an adequate supply of
timber at reasonable prices. Engine
manufacturers have pledged their CO.
operation. too. and all the necessary
machinery for the vessels can be as
sembled as fast as they can be turned
out at the yards. At some plants, new
ways are under construction to take
care of the government building or
ders. The question of labor is giving
officials some concern and a call may
be issued appealing for patriotic CO.
operation by laborers to insure that
the campaign against the submarine
will begin at once. The shipping
board estimates that 1900 men will
the time determined on. This total is
nearly ten times the number of labor
ers now employed in building mer-
chant craft thruout the country.
Establish Labor Bureau.
Volunteers for this class of public
service it is pointed out. need not be
experienced in shipbuilding, as COM
paratively little expert labor will be
required for the type of wooden YES
sells to be built. Within a few days
the board will establish labor bureau
to enlist such volunteers The Ameri-
can Federation of Labor already is CO.
operating and motion picture COM
panies are planning to display pictures
of shipbuilding operations as part of
the campaign for labor recruits.
General Goethals in Charge.
Maj Gen. George w. Goethals
builder of the Panama canal. has been
selected to supervise the construction
program which is expected to involve
within the next year a total tonnage
of three million tons or more thar
now is building in all the shipyards of
the world.
Built for the most part of pine and
fir the ships will range from 1000
to $500 tons. Most of them prob
ably will be equipped with oil burn
ing engines and all will carry wireless
and be armed. The engines will be
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