Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-12-14
.SCHWAb SAYS AD|EU
TO FELLOW FLEET MEN
Praises Cooperation of His Work
ers and Stresses Value of the
Newspapers Aid.

Philadelphia, Dec I4lCharlcs NJ
Schwab Yesterday bade farewell, as di-
rector general Of the Emergency Fleet
Corporation, To twenty-five of the officials.
heads of departments and independent
sections with whom he has personally
associated in the past nine months, at q
luncheon In the l3cllevue-Stratford
At MIR Schwab's suggestion the party
was formally organized as an association
10 meet every year, starting with the first
gathering at his New York home during
the Christmas holidays. Charles PEE,
the new director general, proposed the
election Of MIR Schwab as honarary presi-
dent Of the association, and 1T was carried
with cheers. MIR. Schwab will send his
private railroad car to this city to convey
the members Of the new associat on TO the
New York celebration.
He held a handshakIng reception on
the various floors Of the corporation head
quarters building at Broad and Cherry
streets, following the luncheon. He will
90 to New York city today to resume the
direction Of his private busines interests.
Praise was extended by the retiring
director general Of the feet corporation,
TO the newspapers of this city as well as
the press Of the entire country for their
work Of stimulating the public interest In
the gigantic shipbuldIng task which hak
been set down as the prime war emergency.
Zach one of Mr.. Schwabs guests, be-
fore sitting down to luncheon, were gwen
a personal letter Of appreciation for his
loyal services during the war emergency.
The round table was beautifully decorated
with roses and grcenery, surrounding
fountain and the gold service OF the hotel
was used.
Laughter aud gayety pervaded the en-
tire affair, but tho closing remarks of MIR.
SchWab were not without a solemnIty of
decp-Tootcd affection for the men, whom
he PRAISED as having gwen hum unprece-
dentcd delight IN that he had never work
ed with an organization SO pleasing, loyal
and patriotic.
=, leave you all with extreme regret,
SAID Mr. Schwah The men composing
this organization are all big IN business
affairs, and know the value OF united
effort want To especially pat myself on
the back at finding such true and loyal
worker in MIR. Pictz. and | am happy IN
the results attained also b. Mir. Cooniey,
MIR Cuthell and all the others. :
He credited Charles Day OF thus city,
and a trustee on the United States Stir-
ping Board. with being the real source OF
strength el-headedness and guidance
Of that board Admiral Bomles, he added,
had done giant IS work
All stood up at the conclusion OF the
luncheon, clasped hands around the table
and sang AUD Lang Syne." and theu
The Star Spangled Banner.
Mr. Schwab S tribute 10 the newspapers
follows
in this hour OF my retirement as
director general Of the Emergency Fleet
Corporation, wish to express my sincere
appreciation To the press oi the entire
country for their splendid cooperation.
The spontaneity cI thus cooperation
WAS for me an inspiration which ever
served TO tighten the great tasks that CON
fronted me durng my service rs director
general Newspapers throughout the land
worked In concert 10 gave the proper I'M
petus 10 The shipiuilding program their
WORK WAS constructive and American To
the core. 1t all times the newspaper
work ers, from the managing editor to the
reporter displayed an intense, patriotic
desire to aid iii making the work Of the
Emergency Fleet Corporation a success.
'"The splendid work OF the newspapers
is reflected IN the smpyands where hun
dreds of thousands Of employees are turn
ing out our ships The newspapers did
lion share IN the work Of keeping up the
morale cf the shifbuilders and for this
am grateful, more than words can express.
am proud Of the work done by the Phlla-
delphla reporters who covered my office
daily in search oi news proud OF the press
oi my country proud oi the work that
thousands OF Individual newspaper men
everywhere did 10 mould public opinion
in favor of the shIpnmldlng program :