Milford chronicle., 1917-04-20
MERCHANT FLEET
TO BEAT U-BOATS
May Build Food Carriers al
Rate Of Three a Day.
GOETHALS TO DIRECT WORK

Huge Merchant Marine viii Destroy
Faith in Submarines and May Ever
Win the War
President Wilson has decided Amer
ica's first physical stroke against Ger
many.
It Is a campaign OF colossal proper
tions to break down the submarine
blockade and keep the entente plenti
fully supplied with food clothing anc
munitions
Unable 10 send an army into the
trenches at this time, the president
believes the United States can do an
even greater service in the common
cause by providing a great armada
Of merchantmen TO inyal date the
/ Prussian undersea campaign.
For weeks officials have been work
ing on the plan, bat not until now has
It been revealed on how great scale
the task has been projected, or how
/ great Importance is attached to it in
| the administration war program.
Virtually every detail now has been
completed and by fall the campaign
itself VIII be in full swing Many Of
iicials believe it may attain a suprem
acy over the submarine which will
prove the decisive victory Of the great
war.
Quickly built. light wooden ships OF
2000 tons and upward are to make up
the feet of merchantmen. To insure |
maximum construction. the shipping |
shipbuilding facilities. now the great /
est in the world More than a hun.
dred private plants on all the coasts
viii help giving the boards orders
precedence over every other class Of
work excep; most urgent naval con
struction For the first year prcduc
tlon is expected to reach an average
of three ships a day.
Already lumber interests have given
assurances of an adequate supply OF
timber at reasonable prices. Engine
manufacturers have pledged their co.
operation. and all necessary mach n
cry for the vessels can be assembled
as fast as they can be turned ont al
the yards At more than one plant
new ways are now under construction
to take care of government building
orders.
The shipping board estimates that
all the plants to capacity, and to com
plete the building in the time deter.
mined on The total is nearly ten
times the number cf laborers now EN-
ployed in building merchant cr7ft in
this country :
Volunteers for this class of public
service. it is pointei ont, need not be
experienced in shipbyilding. Com
MttNa expert labor viii be
required for the type of wooden yes n
sells to be built Within a few days Il
the board viii establish a labor bu
reau to enlist volunteers. e.
Meior General George W. Goethals NJ
builder of the Panama canal, has beer
selected to supervise the construction ..
program, which is expected to involve u.
within the next year a total Of three n,
million tons, or more than now IS
building in all the shipyards in the d.
world. te
Built for the most part Of pine and pi
ir, the ships will range from 2000 tc CT
800 tons. Most of them probably
viii be equipped with oil burning en- az
lines, and all viii carry wireless and q
Ie armed The engines will be stand -
rdized, as far as possible, so that is
amased parts may be replaced Nj
broad, If necessary.
An average cost Of about 100000 9 ch
hip is counted on by the board Each wi
'ill carry a crew of about thirtyhve
Zen. On
The first of the vessels are to be Ia
eady IN about six months. During 90,
le year following, the number aaoat IN,
expected to pass 1909. Such a mum far
er officials believe, constantly IN
reased in the months that follow of
Ill render it impossible for Germany of
, maintain her blockade with any de far
rec Of effectiveness.