Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1917-04-20
MERCHANT FLEET
TO BEAT U-BOATS
May Build Food Carriers al
Rate of Three a Day,
GOETHALS TO DIRECT WORK
Huge Merchant Marine Will Destroy
Faith in Submarines and May Even
Win the War.

Faith in Submarines and May EVeh
Win the War.
President Wilson has decided Amer
ica's first physical stroke against Ger
many.
1t is a campaign of colossal proper
tions to break down the submarine
blockade and keep the entente plentl'
fully supplied with food, clothing and
munitions.
Unable to send an army into the
trenches at this time, the president
believes the United States can do an
even greater service in the common
cause by providing a great armada
of merchantmen to invalidate the
Prussian undersea campaign.
For weeks officials have been work
ing on the plan, but not until now has
It been revealed on how great a scale
the task has been projected, or now
great importance is attached to 1t IN
the administration war program.
Virtually every detail now has been
completed and by fall the campaign
itself will be in full swing. Many Of
ficials believe it may attain a suprem
acy over the submarine which Will
prove the decisive victory OF the great
war.
Quickly built, light wooden ships oil
1000 tons and upward are to make UP
the feet of merchantmen. To insure
maximum construction, the shipping
board has enlisted the countrys entire
shipbuilding facilities, now the great
est in the world More than a hun
dred private plants on all the coasts
will help, giving the boards orders
precedence over every other class OF
work except most urgent naval con-
struction. For the first year produc'
tion is expected to reach an average
of three ships day.
Already lumber interests have given
assurances Of an adequate supply o1
timber at reasonable prices. Engine
manufacturers have pledged their CO.
operation, and all necessary machin
cry for. the vessels can be assembled
as fast as they can be turned out al
the yards. At more than one plant
new ways are now under construction
to take care of government building
orders.
The shiDping board estimates thai
100000 men will be needed to work
all the plants to capacity and to com
plete the building in the time deter
mined on. The total Is nearly ter
times the number Of laborers now EN-
ployed in building merchant craft IL
this country.
Volunteers for this class of public
service, it is pointed out, need not be
experienced in shipbuilding. Com
paratively little expert labor will be
required for the type of wooden yes
sells to be built Within few days
the board will establish a labor bu
reau to enlist volunteers.
Major General George w. Goethals
builder of the Panama canal, has beer
selected to supervise the construction
program, which is expected to involve
within the next year a total of three
million tons, or more than now Is
building in all the shipyards in the
world
Built for the most part of pine and
fir, the ships will range from 1000 tc
$500 tons. Most of them probably
will be equipped with oil burning en-
gines, and all will carry wireless anc
be armed. The engines will be stand
ardized, as far as possible, so thai
damaged parts may be replaced
abroad, If necessary.
An average cost of about 100000 8
ship is counted On by the board. Each
will carry a crew of about thirty-fiVe
men.
The first of the vessels are to be,
ready in about six months. During
the year following, tle number afioat
is expected to pass 1000. Such mum
Der, officials believe, constantly in
creased in Nle months that follow
will render it impossible for Germany
to maintain her blockade with any de
gree of effectiveness.