The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-05-03
HAND Of ALIENS SEEN
IN SHIPPING CIRCLES
Overtaken In Scheme To Block Amer.
lean Shipbuilding Program BY
Slow-Time Contracts.
SHIPS BUILDING 10 BE PRESSED
TO UTMOST CAPACITY
German U-Boats Srnt $4,000 Tons OF
Entente shipping To Bottom Last
Weck-Building Program To Be
Enlarged.

Washington. May Amazing in
creases in the destruction OF allied
shipping By German submarines has
revolutionized the governments ship
ping plans and brought INTO play every
possible factor the nation may need to
make the American merchant marine
the greatest single force in winning
the war
Sensational developments disclosed
,cniSht by the United States shipping
board showed that alicu influences
were endeavoring to <sut the ship
yards Of the country with SLOW time
contracts TO impede the governments
ship building program National de-
Tense heads. astounded at the actlvi-
ties of private concerns seeking 10 en-
gage the principal ship yards fer work
on foreign account decided tonight
that action OF the most drastic char
acier by congress TO vest in the presi-
dent absolute control over shipping
was essential to national security.
Proposed legislation giving the
president the widest grants of power
IL may be necessary for him to WELD
/ TO bring American yards to their
greatest state OF. productivity was be-
ing whipped into shape tonight at the
presidents express direction. Chair
man William Denman. of the shipping
board. and his associates were in con-
ference until late night drafting the
measure to be introduced at once and
rushed through both houses of con-
gress.
To Give President Dictator's Power.
The broad powers to be conferred
hr 80 a. -
include the direction by him of every
! shipping facility the United States
has on the seas as we'll as control over
the facilities for the production Of
ships. one OF the most important
features of the legislation and the one
that will he most far-reachinu in its
efTect viii be to empower the president
10 control the competing facilities OF
ship production This power would be
used II necessary to divert the great
steel plants. both their resources in
MEN and equipment. to meet the
urgent need for ship building sup
plies. This provision win make it
possible TO standardize cargo ship con-
struction under the highest speed pos
sibie at ait ship Yards.
Chairman Denman tonight author
lied the statement that bills giving
the president these powers will be
introduced III congress next Friday
and will be vigorously pressed.
Adopt Heroic Methods.
President Wilson and his advisers
tonight were moved to adopt the most
heroic methods to speed ship con.
struction, following receipt of incom.
plete reports from Reliable sources
that German submarines in the las,
week had sent TO the bottom of the
sea at least 305.o00 tons of allied
shipping. To every high administra.
| ton official the grave danger or the
present situation was clearly appar.
ent. The present productivity OF
American ship yards and the highes,
probable amount of output for the
pext four months will not exceed one.
fifth OF the monthly loss Of shippins
fronN submarine attacks, they esti.
mate
With the certainty that Germany
has embarked upon submarine cam.
paigns of more gigantic rEoportions
than officials here have considered
possible, the IA atoms shipping plan,
, were broadened upon a vast scale
and every agency was set xoing al
top speed. ready to put In motion ali
necessary machinery az soon as CON
gress acts
Instead of 1000 wooden shin,
planned at irst, the government NAV
construct double or triple that mum
Der and besides. with the discovery al
the additional facilities OF yards en-.
gagged in steel ship construction. the
government would undoubtedly adopt
la scheme for standardized construc-
ttion which will greatly increase the
output of these yards.