Imperial Valley press., 1918-08-02
FORD TELLS
EAGLES STORY
ugy Associated press)

ttly Associated ifeSS|
Detroit, Aug. With the launch
ing of >Eagle-l, the first of the fleet
Of submarine ,destroyers being built
by Henry Ford for the United States
navy, detailed information concerning
the construction, purposes and possl-
bilitics of this newest naval weapon
became public for the first time lhe
general belief that the boats were lit
tie more than exaggerated launcaeS,
equipped with light guns, was dl*'
pelled when the vessel, 204 feet long,
larger than the old type Of Unl'ed
States destroyers, was dropped INTO
the waters of River Rogue by great
mechanism operated by hydraulic
pressure. Tabulated by dates, the
story of the Eagle is this:
Dec. %. 19l7-Henry Ford Offered
to build boats for the navy.
Dec. 27-Discused plans with Wash
ington officials,
Jan. Is, 19ls-Navy department
awarded Ford company contract for
Eagles.
Jan. lS-Work on design of Eagles
completed.
in. 26-First piece for boat was
completed.
Feb. keel for first Eagle was
laid
Feb. 2O-Construction of the ship
building plant begun.
March Hull of the first Eagle
was completed.
Nav lO-Work on the construction
of Eagles was begun in shipbulding
plant.
June la-Several boats were assem-
bled
July l1-First completed boat is
launched.
The Eagles are within thirty feet
: of approximating the length of the
standard 3,5OO-ton wooden ships be-
ing built for the Emergency Fleet
Corporation.
Viewed from above deck, the Eagle
is much more like founder than a
: mackerel. Its midship cross-sectlon
bears a strong likeness to the lines
: of a canal barge Its stern is sq!ale
, a blunt. The remainder of tn shll
! is built generally in straight lines and
/ plane surfaces. The bow however, ta-
pers to knifelike edge, seemingly
= sharp enough and strong enough te
: literally cut submarine in two.
t Except for the high deck house anc
o the bridge little forward amidships
the deck of the Eagle is unbroken
t Utility has been the ruling consldera
y ton, with low cost production secont
c in importance, and with beauty an'
r comfort only inciGentals.
The Eagles are built to pass easll!
t through the Welland canal and th'
s boats draught and beam are als'
n small enough to permit of the boat
passing through the New York STATE
barge canal. The boats will have
draught of eight feet when full!
equipped and ready for sea. A steam
turbine, geared to the propeller shaft
on which is mounted single three
blade screw Of rather deep pitch, fur
nishes the motive power. Crude OF
! will be used as fuel The tank ca
pacity is easily sufficient for steam
ing radius equal to the distance
!. across the Atlantic.
There is not forging or rolle
beam in the entire ship. Everything
is pressed from sheet metal, cold, b,
means of automatic machinery tina
Cuts every piece to an exact pattern
then punches the rivet holes and bend
every part to its required shape.
After the launching of the firs
:. Eagle, Mr.. Ford said:
81 m. of course, delighted at this in
itial success. but | knew it would b.
all right. When you have a task lik
a., this, entrusted to men who know thei
business, it can't go wrong. lei
them alone, but watched all OF tn
time. ~
"There's no use making unnecessar.
fuss over little launching. We've go
a lot more back in the shops neari.
ready to follow Eagle l."
A tcl ~