Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-04-15
zoe HALs BEGINS WORK
OF BUILDING UP MARINE
NoriNs Greatest Constructive Genius
Again in Harness for
Government.
GIGANTIC TASK AHEAD OF HIM
IS General Manager Of Federal
Nhipping Corporation, Will Super
'ise Immediate Construction Of at
Least 1000 Wooden Ships.


WASHINGTON. April li.-Gcneral
ie"rse WI Cocktails. builder Of the Pan
anna Canal. and the worlds greatest
constructive genius. got into harness
for Uncle sam to-day TO build up :he
american merchant marine. Ills APP
continent as general manager Of the
corporation. authorized by the shipping
Hc'' was formally announced tonight
ny On; irman William Dcnmau. OF the
lhtcd states Shipping Board. Gem
Tal COCKTAILS tonight had pitched into
MS task with viGor and directed his
hhin"diate efforts 10 pcrfecting plans
lor the immediate construction OF at
htst 900 wooden ships OF small. but
swirl tyne, apDroNimating 100000
gross tonnage General Goethais was
IN conference far into the nigh, with
chairman DcnrUan and his associates OF
lhc shipping Board completing the or
saniz"tlou Of the gigantic corporation.
IWhich within a year Will spend nearly
S3oe.""0.cct. and possibly more. IL ,ise
President deems il necessary to make
Imcrchant shipping a powerful factor In
brushing Germany. General Cocktails
| will have as his chief assistant +. \.
IEustis. Of Boston. ono OF the nations
Creates: experts
READY TO PUSH
PROGRAM OUTLINED
The Federal shipping Corporation
will he organized at once under tho
laws Of the District OF Columbia In ac-
|eordsnce with the provisions OF the act
creating 1t. The corporation now is in
P,he building program outlined. with tho
aid of the smoothly oiled machinery or
the Shipping Board. The board work
|inr at ton speed for many weeks. has
[nlaced IN General Goethals's hands COM
piete data as to the capacity Of private
yards. and hundreds OF contracts for
wooden Graf, needed can be drafted
|hnncdia so complete has been tho
shipping Boards survey OF the posi-
|hilitie, 81 shipyard work 10 fulfill wars
demands.
u developed to-day that within
I,hree weeks after the organization Of
|lhe Shipping Board that body had con
ceivcd and undertaken the malnmoih
constructive program. 10 lit in with the
nations genera war plans
Tho reasons tina, prompted General
go" th3tss appointment were oNtilnch
|hr Chairman. pcnman tonight in this
language: first because he il the great
est administrative genius in coustric-
ion 81 tn" age. second bccaus. hc is
NJ German descent. aud his taking over
this work. Is in sense an ackuow-
judgement OF the true .,mcricanism Of
thousands OF so-called German
imcrirans AID third because he had
previously di.nrov:d the statements OF
ce.l;t ;Src:,t German scientists tina, he
couiI not make The Panama Cana "a
Wtnc INC shipping act authorized
'hc expenditure OF only sjo.oco.oo TO
.cscaf.fc the program mapped out the
additional money II is Imperative 20
speed will hc drawn from The stu
ucudols n4r funds Congress soon viii
inakc availahic
pnt. ,TE >IIirN ARDS
10 10 THE BUILDING
private shipyards Viii construct the
ships on "a standardized plan adopted
by the Shipping Board, on basis, IN
most instances. of - per cent profit,
Th, board probably viii finance some
yards although private capital already
is Offering millions for construction OF
The vessels
J. a. Eustacc. a Boston mining en-
sireor. who. with r. Huntington Clark,
New York engineer, conceived the
idea Of Il woodcn-ship fleet, probably
will hc associated with General
Gocthals
The 1ou. 90" tons Of German shipping
taken over 10y the government with the
declaration Of war undoubtedly viii be
nut unler the corporation, AS Will The
Austrian ships now in custody Of the
United States. The general opinion is
that tho German and Austrian owners
viii be paid for their use during the