Omaha daily bee., 1917-05-04
Our New Wooden Fleet
Bg Fredric J. HaSkan

Washington, May l.-"If half the money
spent on naval monstrosities had been spent in
building standardized type OF merchant ship
we should have been in much better position
than we are today"
So declared Admiralty Lord Beresford of the
British navy few weeks ago Fortunately. the
United States is able to profit by England's mis-
takes in the early part of the war, and to direct
Its preparedness program accordingly. one OF
the first things we will have is the standard ship
and in order that we may have it as quickly as
possible it is to be wooden Ways for the first
thousand wooden ships are already in process OF
building; large supplies OF lumber are being as
sembed for work along the PACING coast and
the American Federation OF Labor is cooperating
with the government in supplying 10000 work,
ers for the various shipbuilding concerns awarded
the bids on these small wooden steamers.
Each ship is to be $500 tons and is to cost
100000 1t will be built of tx or pine will use oil
for fuel be mounted with wireless and guns.
Thirty-fve men will be required to man each
ship. According to present estimates, the first
delivery of these vessels will be made not later
than November l., from which date they will
be turned out at the rate OF three day until the
first thousand have been completed. Whether any
more are built or not WILL of course, depend upon
the extent of their SUCCESS IN combating the
enemys submarines.
beginning of the war, carried about per cent OF
our commerce, now carries about IS per cent,
after more than two years. We have been warned
again and again that we needed ships, If only tor
foreign trade but as long as the allies provided
US with ships In which to send their supplies the
warning was little needed. Now it is too late to
get steel ships by the time we shall need them,
owing to the fact that eighteen months are usu-
ally required to build one such vessel and the sit
uation would be discouraging indeed were it not
for this wooden ship project OF the United States
Shipping board.
The United States Shipping board was Gre
ated last November, "for the purpose of encour-
aging, developing and ceratng a naval auxiliary
and naval reserve and merchant marine to meet
the requirements of the commerce of the United
States; to regulate carriers by water engaged in
the foreign and interstate commerce of the United
States, and for other purposes" Five commits
sioners, including William Denman of San Fran
CISCO chairman; Thomas Brent of New Orleans,
vice chairman; John A. Donald of New York,
John D. White Of Kansas City and R. B. Stephens
from New Hampshire, were Immediately ap-
pointed by the president, and by the first of the
year the supervision OF United States shipping
was we'll under way.
From the beginning the members of the board
were worried over the scarcity of shipping and
when the German submarine note arrived they
were more than worried. They were distressed.
Shortly afterwards, however, New York en-
gineer by the name of Eustis paid visit to the
headquarters of the board in Washington and
there laid before it brand new idea. At which
the members went home and had their first good
nights rest in months and the next morning they
invited Mr.. Eustis to occupy one of the boards
Offices. Mr.. Eustis' idea was what the board is
now putting through thousand wooden ships
what we need is standard model OF ship that
can be turned out swiftly to run the German
blockade" he told Chairman Denman. "The Ger
mans cannot possibly sink them as fast as we
can launch them"
As It happens, wooden ship building is almost
lost art in America, where steel is taking the
place of wood i'll all lines of building, so that Mr.
Dennian spent five or six days in going over the
plan before he announced himself convinced
About this time Mr.. Eustis learned that Mr.
Huntington Clark, another New York engineer
had conceived practically the same idea, so he
sent for Mr.. Clark to come to Washington. To.
gether they managed to show naval architect
what they wanted, and requested bids on labor
and materials. 1t was decided. because most Of
our lumber is on the Pacific coast, that that was
the place the ships should be built, and 20 per
cent of the contracts have since been placed there
The trip from coast to coast when the vessel is
| finished will be an expense to the government, Of
course but this will be more than discounted by
loading it with cargo.
Mr.. Eustis and Mr.. Clark are now contribut.
| ing their services to the government purely for
patriotic reasons, the amount of their compensa
| ton being 81 year The dollar is paid because
| the United States government can never accept
the services OF any person gratis,
The organization of project for building
thousand ships is a tremendous undertaking. re-
curing an experienced administrative head, SC
Mr. Eustis suggested that the board appeal tc
General Goethass to take charge. In accordance
with the suggestion, the president asked the gen
eral once more to enter the service OF his country
and few days later he arrived in Washington
where with characteristic promptitude he started
his campaign of action. Although the morning
after his arrival was Sunday, he was at his desk
at an early hour making appointments with var
GUS ship building men who were in town await
ing conference with the Shipping board, ant
clearing up half his next days work.