The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1917-05-28
SHIPPING BOARD
TOSPEED CRAFT
MADE OF WOOD
Chairman Denman Issues
Reply to Criticism of
Gen. GOethals.
MAY TURN TO STEEL
Will Use Timber COnstruc-
tiOn While Demand for
Boats Presses.
HAS PLENTY OF FUNDS
Not Necessary to Sell Panama
Canal Bonds, Statement
Asserts.
MAY TURN TO STEEL
HAS PLENTY OF FUNDS

wAsHrNGroN, May 27.-The United
States Shipping Board proposes to 60
ahead with its wooden ships in conjunc-
ton with the steel ship construction in
spite Of the unmeasured criticism Of
Major-Gen. George w. Goethals in New
York last Friday night. This assertion
was made positively at the Shipping
Board offices tonight
Chairman Denman of the board issued
\ reply to the utterances of Gen.
Goethals and thereby probably opened
even more widely the breach that ap-
pears to exist between Gen. Goethals in
his championship of steel vessels and
the board. which has advocated con-
structon of wooden ships to supplement
steel tonnage. Mr.. Denmans statement
follows:
I'VE believe that the committees of
Congress and not a public dinner with
the head Of the steel trust are the
places for the discussion of matters Of
policy with regard to shipbuilding.
Does Not blame GoethaIs.
The Shipping Board has but one pur-
pose in its activities In Washington at
the present time that Is. to use its ut
most endeavors and powers to defeat
the submarine campaign of the German
Empire. No person nor any interested
group Of capitalists can draw any one
OF us into "a controversy with Gen.
0oethals nor do We think the General is
seeking it.
III all the ships that can be built within
the next eighteen months are built. there
still would he need for thousand
wooden ships to make good the deficit in
our merchant tonnage. though The Ger
man rate OF destruction Is reduced to
half that established in the month OF
April ] do not know whether a thou
sand wooden ships can be built in
eighteen months. There was a hope ex-
pressed tina, we could. and have care
fully avoided denying the possibility OF
realization OF this hope.
MY reason for not denying it is be-
cause do not care to have our German
enemies In Berlin receive that amount
OF comfort. can state. think. that
Gen. Goethals is OF the same point of
view with regard TO the Germans. Every
attempt to make II appear that there Is
disruption between Gen. Goethals and
the board is adding 10 German assur-
ance"
OF Gen. Goethals's statement that the
Treasury has made no effort to sell
sjO,o00000 worth OF Panama Canal
bonds 10 provide funds for the boards
work, he said:
Every request We have made to the
Treasury for money has met a quick
response. i, was not necessary to sell
Panama Canal bonds to obtain money.
and Gen Goethals must have been under
some misapprehension in regard to this
matter. have deep faith that the re-
sources OF the American and allied ma
val officers and inventors will destroy
the submarine. Until that time we must
keep the Allies fed and munitioned with
fleets constantly diminished by the tor
pedo. l, is not going to help the war
by spreading stories of disharmony
among the various organs Of the Govern
nent here In Washington"
Board TO Go Ahead.
At the offices OF the board tonight 1t
vas said the speech OF Gen. Goethals
would have no effect whatever upon the
determined policy of the Shipping Board.
We shall 30 ahead as we originally
Planned, using both steel and wood TO
the limit Of the ship yards capacity" ."
said one OF the members of the board.
AS soon as IL is possible to turn to
steel exclusively We shall do 80. as we
always have intended. But for the pres
ent, when we need every available ton
OF shipping to thwart the German sub
marines and to carry supplies to the
Allies, We shall build wood as we'll as
steel"
There is a disposition on the part OF
those who defend the Shipping Board s
policies 10 describe Friday nights affair
al the Iron and Steel Institute dinner as
staged" They profess 10 regard 1t as
significant that Gen. Goethals was in
duced to make his address Just as the
House OF Representatives is to take up
consideration Of the s720,000,0o0 appro-
priation and the immense powers asked
nv the Shipping Board for the conduct
o' iis steel and wooden shipbuiiding
pan. Debate on the bill is to open to
morrow
These same persons suggest that the
steel interests may have become alarmed
a. the extent TO which the wooden ship
programme might eat into their profits
and cut down their prices, but 10 re-
Sponslbie person cares to be quoted along
This line