Evening journal., 1917-06-15
U-BOAT CHBSERS
WORK IS DELAYED
Lack of Engines Chief Cause
of Trouble, Builders Be-
ing Behind Schedule
MANY CONTRACTS
ARE SCATTERED

WASHINGTON. June 15-The sub
marine chasers will not be ready for
war upon Germany as soon as was /
expected. Instead Of having one /
hundred in the water by August 1. !
as was at first thought possible. il |
Is now estimated that only twenty |
Ave will be built and equipped By that
date
The chief trouble just now is over
engines. The first submarine chaser
was launched several days ago but
. still lacks engines. Tho contract for
the engines OF all the chasers to be
built is held by the Standard Engine
Company. It was TO begin delivery
by the middle Of May and produce
n steadily increasing number Of en-
gines thereafter until all the three
hundred. and forty-four chasers we're
equipped. II is now said by the COM
pany that It Will be able 70 catch up
with the number Il has contracted
10 deliver by August and afer that
make deliveries at the rate agreed
upon. The Navy Department be-
heyes Il Will be able to do this.
But delays are not only over en-
gines A good many OF the boat build
ers are not able TO live I'D to the
terms OF Their contracts. The bulls
that are being turned out in the navy
yards and in the yards OF experienced
builders will be ready on time. But
there are all kinds OF contractors
among those TO whom contracts for
the chasers we're awarded. Every
builders whose bid was less than
$1,000 received a contract. And
among these we're many whose factli-
ties and experience wre inadequate
There we're a great many specula-
tive bidders. who sought contracts
''on a shoestring" in the hope OF
being able 10 sell their contracts TO
real shipbuilders. They have not been
abb to dispose Of their contracts. and
thus a large number Of the chasers
will not be built at all, while others
will not be built on time because their
builders lack the resources and factli-
ties for the prompt completion OF
their work.
An example Of the way these con-
tracts were let was this: One Of the
successful builders was a New York
bookmaker, who put in a bid merely to
sell his contract to some one with a
shipyard. lie has not succeeded in sell
ing it.
Time has been lost on the chasers In
various ways First. the Navy Depart
ment itself was at fault It took a cou-
pie Of months of discussion. preparation
of specifications and examination Of bids
before Il was possible To let contracts.
Bureaus went about their work on the
chasers in their usual comfortable way
observing holidays and quitting work
promptly when the afternoon hour fol
quitting came.
Then the bids were not placed in a
way calculated TO serve the best boats
most quickly. Financial aid, such as has
been given by the government in the
past TO steel companies engaged in work
for the nation. might have been extended
to the best established motorbOat build.
ing companies in the country, so that
they might expand their yards and be
able TO undertake the building Of a larg,
number Of boats.
Such q concern as Lawley. OF Bos-
ton, which is said TO be building bet
ter chasers than the Government Is
turning on, in its own Navy Yards,
might have been encouraged and aided
to enlarge its facilities so as to un-
dertake 100 boats. It is building
twenty or twenty-five. If it had a
large contract the Government would
have been assured of prompt deliver
les OF we'll constructed chasers An
other concern OF like character is the
Electric Boat Company, which builds
. submarines. Il is building a few
chasers.
BY the time chasers are ready II
large numbers Germany may have be
gun 10 make submarine raids on oui
coasts or on shipping near our coasts
She might do this in order to create
popular demand that the chasers b
kept here to patrol our own waters, In
stead Of being sent abroad 70 ai'
in exterminating the U-boats.
Then will be a test Of courage. Ac
cording 10 all the laws of strategy, %
admin stration should ignore the DC
casional raider and send the chaser
where they will accomplish the mos
to win the war. But every one her
breads the cutlery that will be raise
II the chasers are sent abroad and IN
coasts Of this country are raided.