The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-07-14
COCKTAILS, BACKED BY PRESIDENT,
TO ESTABLISH TWO GOVERNMENT
YARDS AND RUSH WORK ON SHIPS

George w. Goethals, as general man
aga of the Emergency Fleet Corpora
ton, is in supreme charge of the gov
ernment's shipbuilding program, and
no one will be permitted to embarrass
him or interfere with his plans, not
even William Denman, chairman of
the Shipping Board. This became
known definitely yesterday.
AS soon as General Goethals felt
himself on firm ground. after many
weeks of controversy. he sent a letter
to Mr.. Denman telling him what he
had done, what he intended to do,
and the funds which he believed
would be necessary. In the course of
this letter he used the personal pro-.
noun Il" no less than II times. In
addition the word my was used in
six of the sentences.
Reports that General GoethaIs
might retire were thus shattered. 1t
can be stated on authority that he
was never more determined to stick
to his post. and carry out the pro-
gram which he believes to be for the
best interests Of the country than he
is today. Having received full power,
he intends to use it, and any effort
to override his plans will find him
ISduy lOI d hSII III IhS opOAls IL "of
predicted here last night that no
such emergency will arise.
In his letter General Goethals told
Mr.. Denman that he would depend
mainly upon ships Of fabricated steel
in fighting the submarine menace, and
that on Monday he would offer con-
tracts for the building of twoplants,
to be owned by the government for
the construction Of 400 of these ships,
aggregating 100000 tons. He did
not ask for advice, but made the defin-
lite statement, II SHALL" The Cen
eral also said that the wooden ship
program had been enlarged from his
first estimate, but he placed a wreath
on the grave Of the so-called Hough
design, which Mr.. Denman has adj
vocated. General Goethals, 1t is IN
derstood, disapproves the design as
impracttcable, and it is stated also
that it has been rejected by Lloyd's.
The Increased wooden production was
accepted by the Denman-Eustis fac
ton as crunb of comfort.
In summing up the situation Gen
eral Goethals said that contracts had
been let for. 34S wooden ships with a
tonnage capacity of 1,21s,eoo tons at
a cost of $4,000, 900, and that he was
negotiating for 100 more of these
craft. Steel contracts called for ~
ships with a tonnage of 643,So0 at a
cost of $101, $50, 1856. He added that
he would continue to let all contracts
for wooden ships. of a design ap-
proved by the naval architect of the
corporation, (the Ferris design
which he could secue from RESPONSE
HE bidders The full program, he
said wo,,ld more than redeem his
n,ror,ise Of 4 ooo. 900 tons within IS
1,onths He would later advise Mr..
Danman a;hont additional money re-
| orired.
THE letter came as a surprise to
Chairman Denman. After reading it
carefully he dictated a short state
ment saying that a meeting of the
Board of Directors of the Emergency
Fleet Corporation would be held Mon
day to consider it He did not be
leve, he said, that there would be any
disagreement after a full discussion
Of the details.
General GoethaPs letter to Chair
man Dennan reads:
| Now that the President has author
lied the Emergency Fleet Corporation
to exercise the powers granted by
Congress to build and commander
ships. intend on Monday, to start
4 ship construction which VIII complete