The Washington times., 1917-05-05
STEEL FLEET WILL
COMBAT BLOCKADE
Small Ships to Be Built on Stand
ard Designs.

Plans for the building OF a vast feet
OF small steel ships on standard de-
signs from stock parts are being
worked out by Maj. Gen. George W.
Goethals for the shipping board.
Secretary OF Commerce Redfield is
responsible for the scheme providing
a great fleet OF cargo-carrying ocean
"fiivvers," that can be assembled like
Henry For puts up automobiles.
The program for building these
vessels will be pushed along with the
wooden shipbuilding campaign.
Secretary Redfield hit upon the idea
long before submarine warfare was
instituted as a solution OF the ship
ping problem faced by the United
States and other nations in the early
days OF the war. He had drawings
prepared of ships that could be put
together from standard steel parts.
Such parts can be turned out in great
number.
GoethaIs Working on Plan.
1t was learned today that the Ship
ping Board has taken up the idea as
a solution to the submarine problem
and the pressing necessity for ships.
General Goethals, who is In charge
of the shipbutlding campaign for the
Government. has drawings and is
hard at work upon the scheme
The ships can be put up at any
point where there Is sufficient water
for launching and room for ways.
The building problem is purely one
OF assembling marked and stamped
parts.
Steel mills can turn out these parts
| by the thousand and send them to
tidewater Sor assembling.
Standard Size and Design.
Heretofore all steel shipbuilding in
the United States has been done along
individual lines. Designs had to be
drawn. new machinery and equip
ment put in by steel mills and build
ing plants to turn out individual
parts, and the construction of each
vessel was an individual problem.
Under the new plan, every piece to
the last bolt and rivet will be of
standard size and design. and the
ships can be put together without the
service OF men skilled in the tech
nique of shipbuildIng, and without
highly skilled engineers, craftsmen,
Secretary Redheld's original design
was for cargo carrying oil burners.
with great carrying capacity. and
with auxiliary sails. II Is not known
whether the shipping board will stick
to the motor and sail provisions, as
the shipbuilders are talking little OF
their plans. It is probable. however,
that II they are not motor driven.
they will burn oil as fuel. The only
problem to be solved Is that OF por-
curing engines.
Hopeful Of American Ingenuity.
Admiral DE Chair. OF the British
Commission. recer .Iy conferred with
Secretary Redheld and General
Goethals on shipping and trade prob
lens, and means to meet the subma.
rine. menace.
Officials here are confident that
American ingenuity will effectively
solve the problem OF the submarine
blockade within a short time. Sew
eral contrivances are being work cd
upon, one OF which. It is believed. will
prove a highly successful weapon
against the under sea boats.
Canada may adopt the wooden ship
building plan OF the United States to
help break the submarine blockade.
Canadian officials have been con-
ferring with General Goethals on the
American program of wooden ship
building with a view to duplicating II
in Canada. The dominion has an in
exhaustible supply OF timber. Its
chief problem is finding the man
power.
VIII Provide Needed Powers.
Officials explained today that the
adoption OF tho program OF steel
ship-building is not to interfere with
the plans for the construction OF a
large fleet OF wooden carriers. Recent
Investigations, however, have con-
WINGED the Government that the steel
ship yards are not being used to any
thing like their potential capacities.
In this Connection the shipping leg
islation, which is to be introduced in
Congress later today will. II is
thought, effectively clothe the Cow
ernment with all the powers 1t needs
to direct the activities OF these and
all other yards to the best interests
OF the nation. Not only would 1t en-
able the Government to commander
the yards, but also compel structural
steel plants, for example. to divert
their activities from private enter
prises to the supplying OF steel parts
for the ships.
Also the legislation, it was ex-
planned beforehand today, would en-
able the Government to take over
ships being built in this country for