Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-07-17
.G0ETHALs's SHIP PLANS
AGAIN HELD UP BY DENMAN
Chairman Of Shipping Board Asks
Further Information on Recent
ly Announced Program.
DENIES INTENTION TO DELAY
Announcement Recalls Differences Of
Opinion Between tho Two and
Leads to New Rumors That Pan.
anna Canal Builder VIII Resign.
tBy Associated Press.J


tire shipbuildinE plan of tho govern
& ment. az we'll as the requisit innment
OF ships, has been temporarily sus-
pended. No contracts were let to-day
FOE either ship &C instruction or plants
for construction Of fabricated steel
ships
General George w. Cocktails, general
manager OF the Emergency Fleet Cor
poratfon, apparently has been made to
realize that his announcement of
definite policy for building ships and
government plants was premature.
How long tho delay will last could
not be learned. either from officials OF
the Shipping Board or from General
Goethals's office. General Goethals re-
fused to discuss the matter in any way.
Persons In close touch with General
Goethals asserted to-day that re-
quest for delay had been received from
chairman William Denman, OF the
Shipping Board. Chairman Denman de-
l. MED there had been any request for
delay, and stated his only communlca-
ton with General Goethals was re-
quest for further information concern
Ing the program announced last week
by the Fleet Corporation manager.
Announcement of the shipbuilding
delay Immediately recalled the differ
ences OF opinion between General Goe-
thals and Chairman Denman. and re-
Hired rumors that directions as to'the
procedure in building and reQuisition-
ing ships had been sent either to Cen
cral Goethals Chairman Denman by
President Wilson. The existence OF
such letter is admitted. and in the
light OF events to-day. 1t is generally
believed Chairman Denman was its re-
cipient.
DECLARES LENGTH OF DELAY
RESTS WITH GOETHALs
In statement late to-day Chair
man Denman declared the length OF
the delay rested with General Goethals,
and added that there was no intention
upon his part or on the part of the
Shipping Board TO delay the shipbuild-
ing plan. What we want is the
speedy construction OF vessels" stated
Chairman Denman. Every days delay
now Will mean double delay later" Cen
cral Cocktails said in his announcement
of shipbuilding program.
With both sides to the controversy
urging speed, the delay in the pro-
gram to-day was n distinct surprise.
Rumors were current almost imme-
diately that General Cocktails would
tender his resignation as general man.
ager OF the Fleet Corporation.
Chairman Denman's statement ex-
planning the situation was as follows:
We requested OF General Goethals
certain information concerning the
program for the expenditure of $780,
100000 of the peoples money for
which the Presidents order had made
the Shipping Board responsible.
III tho project had reached the con-
diton OF preparedness, which 1t has
been asserted II has reached, the in
formation could be furnished us in two
hours, or we could have been told
the Information was not at hand.
when we do receive the informa-
ton in writing. we will take up with
General Goethals the discussion OF all
matters involved in the project OF
building ships. What we want Is the
speedy construction OF vessels, a rca-
sonable price for steel and ship fabri-
cation, and the detention of all alien
tonnage on our stocks, which may be
necessary to carry troops or supplies to
Europe II submarine sinkings continue
even two-thirds as great as they have
averaged for five months ending July !.
REFERS TO LETTER
HE GAVE TO PUBLIC
I'VE arc also interested in the re-
tention by the government of only
fabrication plants constructed by tbs
government. and determining their sale
on the facts as they are at the close of
the war and not now We cannot tell
what the condition of world CONNER
cial warfare may require in the opera
ton of these plants by the govern
ment after the war is over. We are
awaiting information from General
Goethals on these and other matters
referred to In a letter which he gave
TO the public recently.
The fact that we require intelligent
discussion OF these matters does not In
dictate that all the persons responsible
for them cannot come to an agree
ment."
The meeting of the directors OF the
Fleet Corporation. which was to have
heen held to-day for discussion and ac-
tion upon General Goethals's program.
will not be held until a reply has been
received to the request for informa-
ton. The main object of the directors
to the announced program. it appears.
has to do with the construction OF
plants for steel ships, their time for
construction and disposition at the close
Of the war The actual construc-
ton Of ships. or rather the type
OF ships to be constructed. is said
to be a matter that can be readily adj
justed. Chairman Denman already has
announced his preference for steel
ships when they can be constructed In
a sufficiently short time. with wooden
ching filling IN where