New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-06
Britain Building Steel
Vessels in Six Months
Royal Shipping Commissioner Tells of Great Standardized
Merchant Fleet Ways and Asks for American
Material to Aid Construction

OF all classes under construction. Nat
urally, it had to give way to the more
important job Of meeting the new and
unusual requirements of the navy.
Much Of the navy's pressing demands
having been met, we have been able to
concentrate in finishing the types Of
merchant ships begun before the war
and now greatly needed"
"What is the average time required
to build standard ship" he was
asked.
"A conservative estimate is six
months. Some can be put in commits
sion quicker. Six months represents
a saving of sixty days based upon time
/ required TO build a similar ship under
normal conditions. This is all the
more remarkable when il is understood
/ that there is shortage OF labor IN
every trade. We have fewer miners,
railway employees, machine shop work
ers, rolling mill men. shipbulders, and
so forth, right through the country's
industries.
Women have been and are doing
wonderfully well. Engine shop owners
tell me they are becoming as skilled
and capable as men"
What do you think of the American
plan Of building standardized wooden
ships ,"
at is excellent. OF course, We couldn't
build wooden vessels because we lack
the materials. But America has plenty
Of timber. Building wooden ships has
almost become lost art here. 1t re-
! quires skill and experience. but has
many advantages over the construction
of steel ships. One Of these is that the
| ship yard need not be such an elaborate
plant. America has rendered US valua-
] BILE and material assistance right
through the war. Now that we are CO
operating she will help US even more.
Need Steel and Tools
Long before the first of the new
American ships will be ready, we shall
/ hope to be receiving additional mate
/ rial for our new standard ships. This
material consists largely of steel and
/ various machine tools necessary to
| build engines and boilers"
! From what the Shipping Controller
/ intmated, infer that he is well salts
| fed with the steps already taken toward
/ unity of action in the great ship
building programme. All that Great
| Britain has learned through long eX-
perience is now at the command OF
| American constructors, while America
! has offered to give freely of her great
resources. British experts are already
/ collaborating with American construc-
tors. British ship owners contracted
months ago for large part of the
/ American output, but now their inter-
ests are pooled.
Could Use Our Labor
If it comes to a final pinch, American
/ labor might be utilized in British ship
wards. but there are objections to such
a course at this stage chiefly those OF
trade unionists. However, it would
hardly establish a precedent, as there
are Canadians working here.
For example, there is corps OF Can
adian lumbermen, members of the Can
aGan army, working IN the British
woods.
The weekly reports of shipping
losses furnish conclusive evidence OF
the pressing need Of the grand alliance
/ When peace is declared, the Titanic
collection Of arms and ammunition
will cease to be Of value, but every tor
! O. shipping will more than double II
value. The shipyards are building
not only for the present urgent re
/ auirements. but for the great postwar
period OF reconstruction.
Along the Clyde and the MerseI
British men and women are doing their
bit. But though they are accomplish
/ ing what seemed miracles three years
! back. the best that America can do Is
needed to assure victory.