Republican farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1810-1920, 1918-08-09
CARGO CARRIER
LAUNCHED TODAY
At HOG ISLAND
First of a Series of Vessels
Slides Down Ways Before
Immense Crowd.
PRESIDENT AND MRS.
WILSON ARE PRESENT
Chairman Hurley of Ship
Board Says Quantity Pro
duction is Now Begun.

Philadelphia, Aug with a hearty
God speed from the President Of the
United States and Mrs. Wilson, the
cargo carrier Quistonck, the first
ship built at the Hog Island plant was
successfully launched at 1898 o'clock
this afternoon.
Hog Island, the new shipyard on
the Delaware begins to produce today
| with the launching of the first ship
in the presence of the President and
Mrs Wilson. The first lady of the
lad was selected as sponsor.
The vessel cargo carrier of $500
tons and the first of $50 to be con-
structed at the yard. has been named
the Quistonck by Mrs Wilson, who
was given the honor of selecting the
names for all the ships to be built at
the yard. The name is of Indian ORR
| gin.
In addition to the President and
Mrs. Wilson, many prominent Off
Gals from Washington and hundreds
of persons from other cities were in
vited to attend the event. The Ameri-
can International Shipbuilding Cor
|
the largest crowds that ever attended
a launching on the Delaware. More
than 10000 invitations were issued.
All of the 10000 workers at the big
plant were given permission to wit
ness the plunge.
The Quistonck is an oil burning
freighter but can be converted into a
coal burner if necessary. She is 4O1
feet long. The builders said today
that the vessel will be repadily out
| fitted and turned over to the govern
ment before the time scheduled.
at was no mere incident in a
nations shipbuilding program that
brought the president and Mrs. Will
son to the scene of this achievement"
said Mr.. Hurley, who was the princi-
pal speaker at the launching. 1T
was the beginning og an epoch in the
nations history.
This launching marks another
milestone in Americas progress in
the war against the German govern
ment 1t marks the beginning OF
quantity production of ships in all the
yards of the United States.
"It is doubtful whether any nation
ever would have undertaken a ship
building program on such a large
scale if Germany had not plunged the
world into the war;" Mr.. Hurley con-
tinued. I'VE are in it now and we
are going through with 1t. we are
producing more tonnage today than
the submarines are sinking, and from
this time forward, our great task Will
be to replace the tonnage that was
lost in the days when we were far be-
hind in the nerve-racking race with
the sharks of the sea.
I'VE have made tremendous strides
In the ship building program and
doubt whether 1 will ever have bet
ter opportunity to state that the vast
scope of this program was due to the
vision of the President. Throughout
the world, even in Germany, it is ad-
mitted today that America has made
herself effective in the war. Not only
America but all the civilized nations
of the world have become convinced
that this country had no selfish pur-
pose in the war; that this country
would have kept out of it if its owr
honor had not been assailed and the
welfare of all humanity had not beer
at stake.
I'VE are going through with the
shipbuilding program to the finish
and we are going through with the
war to a finish. The American gov
, eminent is planning for long wal
because enduring peace will not be
in sight until the militaristic system OF
Germany is broken. Nothing else
will convince Germany of the SUI
premacy of right over might. Moth
ing else will convince her that weal
. nations are not the natural prey o.
the strong.
Even then, the shipbuilding pro
gram of America must go on. 1t will
take five years to complete the pro
gram and place at the service o.
, mankind a merchant fleet that will
make enduring peace by bringing thu
. nations closer as the eastern ant
: western and northern and southern
/ states were brought closer by a ma
! tion-wide system of railroads Tit
= end of the war will find America mas
ter of thep recess of quantity pro
duction of ships. We will build ship!
for ourselves and for the world.
Then men who have worked OF
this ship launched today and OF
other ships that are being launched
and will be launched are makers of {
new America. Through the efforts O.
the shipyard workers, a large arm!
now is in France and through thu
continuous work, an army steadil!
, ! growing larger and larger eventual!
will overwhelf the carefully con
structed military machine with which