The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-03-20
AMERICAN NAVY
 WILL HUNT OUT
 GERMAN U-BOATS
Continued from Page one)

York plant will be bought from private manufacturers in time to have them in stalled promptly upon completion of the hulls. Bids for 200 or more additional craft of the same type ''coast patro boats,' as they are to be designated, will be opened next Wednesday, MT. Daniels has called upon the entire small boat industry to submit figures as to the number that could be turned out at high speed. He plans to monopolze the mar ket with government orders.
 A large number of privately owned motor craft available for navy use may be drawn upon at any time. Retired navy officers have been at work along the Atlantic coast surveying boats for a month. Contracts have been made for their purchaser and a telegraphic order will make them government property overnight.
 Volunteer crews for the boats have been enrolled among yachtsmen and others along the coasts Commanders of naval districts are ready to call them out and begin patrol work with virtually no delay.
 Navy officials estimate that within four months a fleet of 2000 patrols and chasers will be ready for action. It is planned to assemble the volunteers within a few days to begin actual operations as a matter of training, pending orders from the President for complete mobili- zation of the navy.
 In this connection officials say it is planned to establish submarine proof rto ofyN1 NfF Hr.o, safe passage to and from American ports for all ships. Since the visit of the Ger man submarine U-53 to Newport last sum- mer made it clear that the underwater craft could operate across the Atlantic it is believed necessary to provide for protection of American harbors in the event of war
 . Information negotiations will be started for working agreement with the British and French patrol squadrons now en- dcavoring to protect ships passing through the German submarine @azone. 1t is planned to. make American waters safe against submarines for all ships with the understanding that American ships will receive full protection in the zones from patrols of the allies. The plans would necessitate the interchange of informa- tion as to the routing of merchant craSt to and from across the Atlantic.
 Secretary Daniels would not discuss the uses to be made of the new patrol boats. They will he of sufficient size, however, to permit their use far offshore, if necessary.
 As recent naval contracts were let with the understanding that the eight-hour law would be suspended because of the short age of skilled labor, builders have agreed to construction of the five battle cruisers and six scout cruisers recently assigned to them at the greatest possible speed, employing at least 70 per cent o1 all their men on this work. The de partment will meet extra pay rolls and other expenses due to the speeding ur and pay time and a half for all work in excess of eight hours.
 Under this agreement it is hoped to complete the battle cruisers in three years and scout cruisers in less than two.
 Secretary Daniels said there was nc present need of exercising the authority to commander shipbuildng or othes plants to hasten navy building. The builders are cooperating heartily and similar agreement with the steel ano other contractors for material probably will be arrived at within d week. Con- ferences with the contractors have al ready been called in addition to cores spondence with the companies which has been in progress many days