The Washington times., 1917-04-12
THOUSAND VESSELS
TOBRIDGE ATLANTIC
Small Wooden Ships, to Be Built
by U. S., Expected to Break
U-Boat Blockade.

| Within eighteen months, the Allan
tic will be bridged with little wood
en- American ships-one every three
miles-in an endless caravan Of food
and munitions. One thousand 5000
ton boats-a total of 10000 ton
nage-will be put in the Atlantic
trade. Commencing with November
1 next, an average of three ships each
day will sail into service.
Final authorization for this pro-
gram has been signed by President
Wilson, with the Endorsement of his
entire Cabinet
The United States shipping board.
which will handle the job. with $780,
OOO. 900 already at its disposal. is con-
sidering call upon Congress for
5000, 100000 more.
simultaneously, the board issued a
call for 10000 lumbermen and wood
workers to start work at once. Presi-
dent Gompers, Of the American Fed
Grafton of Labor, has promised CO.
operation in supplying labor. &C.,.
Gen. George w. Goethals has been
asked by the President to take charge
of the ships.
Paves Way for Supremacy.
Not only Is the wooden feet ex-
the United States, at the close Of the
war, will be well on the way to oom-
meroial supremacy of the world. The
ships will endure for thirty years. and
Will form a basis for trade expan-
sion following the war, which, II may
be stated, is not the least of the fac
tors considered in adopting the plan.
Particularly will the ships be useful
in the South American trade, it Is
stated, where numbers of ports have
shallow harbors inadequate to ac-
commodate bigger ships.
Complete mobilization OF industry
and the railroads in putting the
scheme through also was announced
Lumber in practically unlimited guam
titles has been assured by numbers of
great mills. and all supplies will be
routed through without stop to the
yards by the railroads.
Work on ways for the new Ships
already has commenced at Jackson
Vile. Fla: Beaumont, Tex, and half
a dozen other points.
Scope of Shipping Plan.
The plan. which President Wilson
and the shipping board believe will
SO overwhelm Prussia's scayenger
boats as 70 break the back of the
blockade. contemplates the following:
One thousand 3,000-ton wooden
ships. $50 feet long, to be turned out
within one year, Acknowledgements
1. 1917.
Standardization of design so far as
practicable. to expedite construction.
Construction OF 1000 more in the sec
ond year OF the war. II the submarine
blockade still remains effective. This
would place a ship every single mile |
from the United States to England
The ships to cost about $4,000 each |
complete-one-half the cost OF a steel |
ship of the same tonnage.
Each ship TO be manned with a |
trained gun crew and equipped with |
anti-submarine guns.
or "Low Visibility
Ships to have a normal speed OF ten |
knots. with extra-size engines to de-
veIop sixteen knots on emergency to |
escape attack.
Ships to be OF exceedingly Tow visi-
bility." with no masts.
Wireless equipment
Ships to be built by private ship |
yards under contract for their pur-
chase when completed by the ship
ping board. The board then may
either resell the ships, charter them,
or operate them.
The magnitude OF the enterprise
100000 tons in twelve months-is /
apparent when compared with total
shipbuiIding figures (steel and |
wooden) for 1916. In that year the |
United States turned out soc, 900 tons;
Great Britain and her colonies, 7OO.-
900, and the rest OF the world. 600, 900 |
"a world total OF SOC, 900. Added TO |
the normal ship production for next |
year. which the new program will |
not interrupt, the 5000, 900 tons in the |
wooden feet, will bring the total up |
to more than twice that OF the whole |
world combined for 1916.
VIII Relieve Allies.
The wooden ships will be sufficI-
emily fast TO elude many attacks;
will be cheap to build, and may be |
speedily built, under a standardiza-
tion.
Three trips abroad and return, Of |
ficials estimate. will more than pay
for the entire cost OF the vessel.
Assumption by the United States
OF the tonnage problem, officials |
point out, will take a great load from
the allies, and assure them of steady
supplies needed to press the war to |
successful conclusion.
Thirty-flve thousand additional men |
will be needed to man the new fleet.
besides adequate gun crews for each