New-York tribune., 1917-05-04
Goethals Said to Hold That
Steel Boats Must Be
Rapidly Built
New Phases Of
Critical Situation
World Not Building Tonnage
as Fast as Germans Are
Destroying 1t

Washington, May General Goeth-
ais, who has charge of the building Of
cargo boats for the United States Ship
ping Board, is understood to doubt the
practicability of the proposed wooden
ships and TO favor building them only
as temporary measure until steel
shipbuilding on large scale can be en-
tered upon by the nation. In this
opinion he is supported by large num-
Der of expert shipbulders in this
country.
The green timber ship was counted
upon to supply in six months 100000
tons of new shipping each month to
replace vessels destroyed by the Ger
mans. The plan was adopted by the
Shipping Board, which is an alert and
energetic body, not out of preference,
but because it was not easy to add to
the steel ship building capacity of the
country. Steel mills are occupied to
their full capacity. Wooden ships
could be quickly built.
Contrary Opinion
The Shipping Board consulted with
builders Of wooden ships before max
ing its decision, and found enough
support for the idea of turning stand
ing trees, without seasoning, into
ships. to be convinced of its practi-
cability. But there has always been
large section of ship-building opinion
which was extremely skepticsl. Some
think the green timber ship is imprac-
ticaI II is further said that they
would be slow, and, therefore, easy
targets for torpedoes. and that, as they
would be small, guns mounted upon
them could not be used effectively at
sufficient range against submarines.
But in any case, and no matter what
! General Goethals thinks about these
boats. many Of them will be built. A
number of contracts have been let.
Opinion is gaining, however, that the
/ building of steel ships must be enor-
mously increased and that the wooden
shin will be only a makeshift
The Figures
, How critical the ship situation is IS
plain from the figures. 1t is estimated
; that we are now building about 100000
+ IONS month OF steel ships, and can
build 300 OOO tons Of green timber
; ,yooden ships. Great Britain and It's
I colonies nave an estimated capacity,
/ exclusive of necessary naval construc-
Z tion. somewhat less than this. Japan
and Norway are building some ships.
4 is doubtful if the worlds capacity
/ r estimates are realized will greatly
exceed 100000 tons month, and not
much more than half of that is being
produced now.
And the Germans arc said 70 BE-
sinking ships at rate IN excess OF
900 900 tons a month.
We have 100000 tons of German
shipping which will soon replace some
of the sunk ships. And We have Grea'
Lake and coastwse shipping which may
he placed al the service OF the Allies.
And England has still a small supply
of shipping which may be diverted
from its present uses to carry food ana
munitions for herself and her Allies.
But that is all there is to make up for
losses except the new shipping THAI
can be built, chiefly in this country, for
to build abroad requires ships to carry
the steel from this country abroad.
Those figures show what is meant by
saving that the crisis is second oniy
10 that which existed when the Ger
mans were near the gates of Paris.