Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1918-03-19
HUNDREDS OF EMPLOYEES At The SHIPYARDS
HEAR PATRIOTIC ADDRESSES TODAY NOON
Sneakers From United States Shipping Board Emergency
Fleet Corporation Deliver Stirring Talks Concerning
the Necessity for Patriotic Labor in Winning the
War Against the Huns.

The shipyard of the Virginia Ship
building Corporation in this city wa.
the scene Of patriotic drama todh!
ar Il o'clock in which the hundred
of men engaged in the building OF tht
big plant were not only interested
spectators but also played their part
with great credit.
From a large platform, erected II
the center of the grounds for tA<
occasion and decorated with the ma
tional colors, two eloquent addresses
were made. one Of them by a man
who had gone cover the top il
France on more than one occasion
and knows from experience what Ger
man bullets feel like as he was wound-
ed three different times. His name
is Corporal Frank A. H. Street, and
he was member of the First Cana
dian Contingent, Streathona's Horse,
who enlisted in the war three year:
ago.
As soon as the hundreds of employ
ees had gathered about tne platform,
Mr. B. w. Morse, vice president CT the
shipbuilding company, called the as
semblage to order and made q brief
Snnach in which he said:
'Fellow workers: We are engaged
in patriotic work. But ] fear that
we do not realize its great Importance.
Uncle Sam is another who believes
that our worliingmen do not fully ap-
preciate the Importance Of the task
in which they are employed. The sue
cess of the war depends in very great
measure upon ships with which to
transport the men to fight across the
water and also the ammunition ana
food with which to make their efforts
effective. 1t is to impress upon your
minds the great necessity for patll-
otic cooperation on your part that
we have. brought to you today men
who will tell you of the necessity FOR
YOU to do the work in which you are
here engaged. take great pleasur"
in Introducing to you Dr.. J. II. Shep-
pard. of the United States Shipping
Board Emergency Fleet Corporation.
Dr.. Sheppard, who was formerly a
Baptist clergyman. quickly enlisted
the attention Of the men. He. said
that six months ago he started to "do
his Bit. by going to work for Uncle
Sam. He referred in scathinC terms
to the efforts which are being pat
forth by the German propagandisls 10
influence the men who are working IN
the shipyards throughout the county,
instjratir" strikes and otherwise en-
deavoring to impede and ohstruct tnc
Building of ships, and said there Is no
greater patriotic duty to be done tcdaE
IMAM LlltG vi DtIlilits- IIIS '''i'.'' ''''~''
Uncle Sam will require to carry th2
soldiers. ammunition and food across
the water. He said that loyalty - rs
much needed in doing the labor in the
shipyards as in using tn" guns on
the battle field. and felt confident that
the working men Of America could he
trusted 20 do their part and DO i
well. Several incidents were made
use of by him during the course Of his
remarks to bring home TO the men tn2
necessity for patriotic effort on tie'f
part. and the earnest applause when
he received gave evidence that the en-
p!oyees of the Virginia Shipbulldin&
Corporation are men of the right
stamp.
At the conclusion Of his address. Dr..
Sheppard introduced Corporal Stree,
VINO related his experiences in the
trenches of France at considerable