Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-04-03
SHIPS, NO EXCUSES,
HURLEY'S DEMAND
Calls on Vessel Builders to
Put War Punch Into
the Work
FALLING OFF IN MARCH
Washington. April 3.

mn lI.
'h,pnlnz board, and Charles Piez, gen
syoi manager of the Emergency Fleet
s,r,.,,ora,ion have sent to every ship.
srd In the United States, and with it
!, hocame known that shipping board
"no,als feel the shipbuilders of the
country have not yet put the war
,pnchp behind their efforts.
oplease don't overestimate," the tel
lam urged after asking for the pros
s.ects during April. It announced that
ihe March estimate of 191,O15 tons had
tne . I'm made on the promises of ship
t,,iiders. who delivered only 166,700
tons. .. .. .t,o ,,,o,,-,,,,,
-. the Immediate cause for sending
re telegram, and it also marked new
l. ~, IN the policy of the shipping
Soard Oficials declared that from
,ow on responsibility will be brought
sc,,arely down upon the persons who
are at fault.
.an said IL was his intention to find
ne evactly where the fault lay.
aperhaps it may lie with representa-
.t,,os ~ the fleet corporation, who are
ssonarating with the builder" he said.
sge - yve want to know il, and prem.
;sa 70 correct H. If there Is any short.
sco Of material, we want to know 1t.
- we can take 1t up with the war
Industries board and prevent 1t happen
ing again. We want the rnanagenlents
.vamine carefully to eliminate any
;peflciency or lost motion.
aEvery man engaged in building
sh,oa ought to keep in mind all the
,;rns that he is working to back up the
So,,s over there, and that II is up to
~ shipbuilder and shipworker to feed
.hose bows who are giving their all
~ this war. II we all could get that
idea there would be no loss Of pro.
duction at any time.
sTwo great factors are still missing
,r our work" was another statement
made at the shipping board.
@rhe newer yards have not perfected
.h.i. organization to the highest point
(. ~ efficiency, and the workers them
ss,ves have not begun to realize the
s.i,oiIv important part that they are
aiiing in the war. We want the spirit
anaory the men to reach such a point
that they will have the same feeling
in driving home rivet that the soldier
does when. he uses cold steel
"This personal obligation system
r;ll extend TO every member of the
shinning board and the Emergency
ITaet Corporation. The president OF
Zach shipyard will be held responsible
for the production in his yard; the
foremen will have the task of securing
100 per cent efficiency from their
crews. and each individual worker is
expected to show maximum results"
Criticism Is Not Specific
Although Chairman Hurley declared
IN his telegram that he was not salts
fed with the March production. 1t was
made clear that he did not aim his
message at any particular section of
the country. The feeling was that suf-
acient time has been spent in prelim'
mary work, and that from now on
there can be no excuse for failure 10
deliver the goods" A..
I'VE are particularly anxious that
sou and your organization should put
forth special effort during April" said
The Hurley.Piez telegram in this con-
nection. 1--WE are anxious that you
should keep us fully informed con-
cerning all causes of delay encoun-
tered during this month. We are con-
cerned with the entire program, but
want April 20 break all records"
Shipping board officials were con-
hdent that the step they will have
taken will bring results that will end
the submarine menace forever. The re-
70 be compiled and analyzed. Officials
expressed themselves as eager to rem
edy any defect that NAL be found, re-
gardless Of the money, material and
men required.
Here Is the Telegram
Chairman Hurley's telegram fol-
lows
I'VE are keenly disappointed in the
amount of tonnage delivered by Amer
lean shipyards during month of March
and the slow progress made in many
Yards. Only twenty-five steel vessels,
aggregating 166,700 tons, were deliv7
cred during that month and our mini
mum estimate was for 1905 tons. In
stead of this reduction from our eSti-
mate we should have had an increase
This estimate was made on promises
OF shipbuilders. Thirty steel ships were
launched with total tonnage OF 219,-
sS6. Eleven wooden ships were
launched, amounting to 10000 tons.
We are particularly anxious that
you and your organization should put
forth q special effort during the
month OF April. We are anxious that
you should keep us fully informed
concerning all causes OF delay encoun-
tered IN building ships during this
month daily by wire IL necessary. We
are concerned with entire program,
out we want April to break all records.
Calls for Facts
Are the majority of your men
doing a fun days work? Are you
working overtime? Are you running a
~nignt shift or planning to do so? II
imperative that every hour that
can DC taken advantage of be used.
won't you reply promptly to this tele-
gram stating frankly the facts2
Money. material and men have
peen supplied without stint by the ma
uon. Keynote of present situation is
nanasement-leadership. Emergency
sleet Corporation looks to you for
IAN work in applying leadership Ia
spse1lng up OF program. We will well
some any suggestions which you wish
make, and II, in your opinion. the
tault lies with the Emergency Fleet
Ssorporatlon don't hesitate to advise us
mnat tonnage do you expect to pro
Ieee curing April in the way OF fin
cuea ships? How many keels will you
G ~, How many ships viii you launch
vase don't overestimate. We are
~Alons to get actual facts so thai
war program may be carried out
we are holding you personally re
sprhslble for the successful manage
,nent OF your property. III you fail tc
.la,ntain your schedule of production
ellch schedule the country is expect
,s you to meet and which we mus
e you meet in order to win this
the country will charge you anC
nttn not doing our part. Our coun
wo ~ = holding every foreman and every
e,s,,.ln ,o,r,Aman In the shipyards. and espe
s.aly every shipyard owner, stockhoId
81 ana manager q xvaIi o. 3 av,a.,, !, "a