New-York tribune., 1918-07-04

WASHINGTON, July 3.-On the eve
Of the greatest snip-launching day in
history the Bureau of Navigation of
the Department of Commerce an
nounced tonight that the fiscal year
lust closed exceeded all previous years
in new ships built in this country, Civ
ing the United States q merchant ma
rine of 1O040,659 gross tons and num-
bering nearly 10000 vessels.
In the twelve months ended June 80
there were ,622 new ships of 1,430,793
gross tons numbered by the bureau
more than double the output of Ger
man yards in peace times. Great Brit
aims production IN the same period has
not been made public, but in the year
ended May 81 amounted to 1,406,S39
gross tons, or about 20 per cent Of the
normal output.
In addition to the merchant ships
permanently under the Stars and
Stripes the seagoing feet Of cargo car
riers controlled by the United States
includes 10000 tons of requisitioned
Dutch ships and 404,7 700 tons operated
hospital ships, supply transports and
other auxiliary craft, besides yachts
and similar vessels under 500 tons en-
ployed in considerable numbers in mill
tary and naval service.
Rush in Four Months
One half Of the fiscal years output
q ships was completed in the last four
months. The total included 253 sea-
eto of
tons and l07 seagoing wooden vessels
Of 213,0SS tons, the remainder being
vessels for the lakes, rivers and do
mestc transportation, except one con-
crete seagoing steamer of 3,427 gross
tons
Even this record production, how
ever, undoubtedly Will be eclipsed in
the fiscal year Just starting, for many
new yards are Just beginning to get
into operation and the great fabricating
yards have not yet began to add fin
lshed ships to the cargo fleets.
$4,000 Tons Lost on Coast
Losses sustained by the merchant
marine included for the last three
months were 82,C49 tons of sea going
vessels, including ten of l4,707 gross
tons sunk by submarines off the At
lantic Coast in May and June.
The growth of the shipbuilding in
dustry in this country in the last years
has been a close rival of many busi
nesses which have given America it's
reputation as great industrial nation.
The records of the Bureau of Naviga-
tlon show that in the twelve months
ended June 30, 1916, when the renais-
sance Of shipbuilding had just started,
there were completed in American
yards 1000 ships of 7,147 gross tons.
Names Of the fourteen torpedo boat
destroyers to be launched tomorrow
were announced tonight by the Navy
Department as follows:
Bethlehem Union Plant. San Fran
eLsco-The Mexican, Harding, Gridley,
Williams, Crane. Hart, Ingram, Burns.
Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry
dock dock Company, Newport News-The
Inomas, Haradan and Abbott.
=, William Cramp & Sons Shipyard,
fnlladel lphia-The Upshur and Elliott.
:, bethlehem Fore River Plant, Quincy,
Mass.-The Maury.
another twelve months saw the num-
Der increased to 1,546 ships of 812, $50
gross tons, and in the wear just ended
'Ie tonnage output was nearly doubled,
while while the number of ships grew to L.
oz-' Instead of small craft for domes-
Ic transportation, the yards now are
puI-dng great oceangong ships to car
men and supplies to France and
later to establish new lines of COM
munication between the United States
Snd Latin America and the Orient.
Wilson Sends Message
The launching OF nearly one hundred
ships tomorrow, declaration of Amer
lean independence of foreign merchant
MARINES, Will be attended with words of
appreciation from President Wilson,
Iha!rman Hurley, General Pershing
ana the Americans fighting in Europe
We are all comrades in a great
cause" declared the President, in a
message to be read in every shipyard
III the presence of an army of loyal
sgorkmen second in size only to the
"gnting army overseas.
y Your employees will 'douse' the
Aalser" is Mr.. Hurley's enthusiastic
comment, while General Pershing
whose complete message was made pub.
te previously, declared:
Win such backing we cannot fail
70 WIN. All hail American shipbuild.
President Wilson'S message was con.
,,alhed IN his letter to Chairman Hur
I am very glad to take part in cele
'aIihg a. the launchings," he wrote.
fo,i beg that you will make use of the
Aoiiowlng message:
join with you in feeling the
greatest pride in the diligence and
sklil and devotion which the men in
ne shipyards have exhibited in com
pletlng the fleet which is to be
iIaenched on the Fourth of July, and
l nope that you will convey to them
my congratulations and pleasure in
feeling that we are all comrades in
great cause.'"
The appreciation of the Shippins
tD1'ards chairman is contained in thi,
Yards: ~ "a
Our historic launching to-day is
!. new declaration of independence.
~. lis great. Yet it is only Americas
ssSs.'oe. sSoe The big splash will go around
iSt&e world. Your yard helped make
81; Your employees are behind Per-
Fr.ngs men, behind the faith of
lance the dogged courage of Eng