The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1918-07-06

dOWu.
That was the message delivered
to the shipworkers here yesterda,
by Charles M. Schwab, director gen
eral of the emergency fleet corpor
alton, in the first public speech ht
has delivered since taking charge
OF the shipbuilding program.
Mr.. Schwab was speaking at tht
Independence day launching of mer.
chant ships here, which was part
OF the national program in which
probably a hundred ships-and pos
sibly more-were being sent from
the ways to the seas from yards all
over the country.
Il venture to predict that the
number of ships launched today is
the greatest record of launchings
for a single day in the history OF
the world" said Mr.. Schwab.
when the truth percolates to the
German people they will know that
their leaders have deceived them !;
that Americans have their sleeves
rolled up and We have our fighting
blood up; that we are going to win
this war if it takes the last man,
the last ounce of strength, the last
resource and the last dollar that this
country possesses.
We Stand Unafraid.
you and all the other ship
builders have dedicated your serv-
ice to America. We stand firm
determined and unafraid before the
naked truth we must defeat Ger
many or Germany will defeat us.
Wars are not won ALTOGETHER on
the battlefield. Do not think for
one minute that the Prussian gen
erals are unmoved by what we are
accomplishing. They know that
we launched a 5,500-ton ship in y
days from the time the keel was
laid over in Camden, N. ]. That
was a tremendous accomplishment
never before approached in any
country and it was blow in the
face OF Prussian confidence. Our
enemy knows, too, that it is the
workmen over here who are max
ing these things possible; that the
men in the shipyards are working
day and night, determined, untir-
ing and enthusiastic; that they are
backing up the boys in the trenches.
The kaiser knows that with the
united backing OF American work
men, American armies can never
be beaten. The credit for winning
this war will be shared equally by
the workmen of America and the |
fighters of America. The best cap
tains and colonies in our shipbuild
ing army cannot build ships without
the strong armies of the privates, |
corporals and sergeants The heat
er boy today is a young hero who
deserves place alongside the drum
mer boy in that picture you have
seen so often-The Spirit of TO-
Mr.. Schwab said the shipbuilders
on the Great Lakes will produce
between 100000 and 100000 tons
this year, and they are preparing to
double their output next year. ~
fine spirit OF cooperation IS in evil
dence in the yards along the lakes
and | have every reason to believe
that they will carry full share Of
the burden" he said.
Arms of the Army.
I'VE have great army of work
ers building ships for this emer-
gency. There are 100000 of us, and
we are all fighting for America.
You men who swing the cranes are
in charge OF the big guns. You
who drive the rivets are operating
the machine guns of the shipyards.
Every man who does a full days
work is doing his share to win the
war. The gangs at work on a ship .
are holding a trench and when they ,
aunch that ship they go over the t
op. When they lay new keel I
hey are digging in and making {
-eady for another long defense. I
Every time We launch a cargo t
IT troop ship or tanker we add {
o the certainty that German sub i
marines cannot win the war. Al 5
eady we have the U-boats on the a
un and if we keep up the pace we S
will have them beaten by next year.
Md when we achieve this victory {
t will be you who will deserve the a
redit. SO far as | am concerned, V
nd so far as Mr.. Hurley is con- il
erned, and | am sure, so far as D
he president OF the United States i,
5 concerned. you win get the credit. n
"Germany's only hope now, if it
an be called hope, is to win the G
;ar by great military victories.
iermany knows that we are build
lg ships and getting a real army -.
cross the Atlantic. The kaiser is
laking his supreme effort now i'll -
ne knowledge that America will =.
BON be started and will stay in the g;
ar until it is won. If we complete :,
ur shipbuilding program they will :,
now over in Germany that not a -
lred of hope remains. Can We a,
omplete it? Can We build these u
lips in time to keep our bridge to sc
rance unbroken. That is a ques- ar
OH for you men in the shipyards al
answer. America has never lost or