The Washington herald., 1918-08-03
SHIPBUILDERS
IN US. NOVICES
OF 400, 900 Now Employed
80 Per Cent Are New to
Work, Says Holland.


A. Eaton. who returned, a few days
ago, from tour which included all
the shipbuilding plants on the Pacific
Coast. DR.. Eaton who is serving the
government in the Emergency Fleet
Corporation. has had opportunity.
since early spring, to visit all the
shipyards and shipways OF the United
States. He made inquiries for the
purpose OF getting information re-
specting the number Of men employ
ed in the shipyards, and the state
ment that 10000 are now at work In
the various shipbuilding plants Of the
United States Is based upon the In
formation DR.. Eaton received at all
OF the plants. So also he was able
to estimate that Of this number not
more than 20 per cent were familiar
with shipbuilding q year ago.
In view OF the unexampled achieve
ments Of the American shipbuilders
since April Of last year, DR.. Eaton
regards the highly skilled labor which
10 now employed in the shipyards and
which IL produced by 10000 men, al
most all OF whom a little over a
year ago knew nothing of shipbuild-
ing. as one of the finest demonstra-
tons Of American efficiency and the
adaptability, OF labor to adjust itself
TO any emergency. no matter how
great
Many Acquire New Trades.
In addition to shipyards there are
now approximately 1000 industrial
plants in the United States. en-
plcying about 1000, 900 men. who are
occupied with manufacturing boilers,
machinery and other apparatus to be
installed in the ships after they are
launched Meny Of these men, who
are skilled artisans, were a year
ago occupied with other yocations.
OF course, boilermakers and the
manufacturers Of engines were skill
ed experts when they were called
into the employ OF the industrial
plants, and yet probably more than
half OF these Industrial employees
were, when the United States en-
tered the war. unfamiliar with the
manufacturing operations in which
they are now employed in building
machinery and other apparatus to
be installed in vessels.
When DR.. Eaton completed his tour
upon the Pacific Coast he estimated
that he had addressed 135,OOO ship
workers Almost all of these address,
es were made at the noon hour. The
artisans gathered in some convenient
place nearby or in the yards and rs
tened with enthusiasm to the appeals
DR.. Eaton made to them with intent
to spur them to even greater ens-gy
and activity, IL that were possible,
than now characterizes their work.
He made 1t clear to them that ships
are as necessary to winning tine war
as are our soldiers, and brought home
to them the fact that every man in
the shipyards. whether riveter or what
not. is doing in his way quite as much
to bring victory as are the sold,svs
al the front
DIR. Eaton speaks with qualification
Of the enthusiasm shown by the ship
workers. There are now. he says,
in the service OF the Emergency Fleet
Corporations some 30 men who
are occupied in visiting the vari-
GUS shipbuilding and industrial plants
and addressing the artisans at the
noon hour. All of these speakers re-
port that the enthusiasm and zeal
Of the men are all that could be de-
sired.
Many anecdotes illustrative of tie
wonderful efficiency as well as the
speed which characterize the workers
in the shipyards and the Industrial
plants are narrated by DR.. Eaton. In
speaking Of this feature of the work,
he said: II am persuaded that the
American shipbuilding program as It
is now being carried on is one of the
firest proofs Of the indestructible re-
sources Of the American people. These
resources are so great and 50 indie
structible that no matter how long the
war with Germany may he continued
we are now rapidly reaching a posi-
ton where we can supply all the men.
all the munitions and all the supplies
that are needed for our armies. no
matter how many million Americans
are brought into military service. and
furthermore we can furnish our allies
across the sea with needed food"
Great Speed and EFeiency.
One anecdote narrated by DR..
Eaton illustrates the speed and ef-
ficiency which are characterizing
American shipbuildinE. He saw the
Defiance launched at a shipyard up
on the Pacific Coast recently. She
is a vessel of 12.OOO-ton capacity,
She was launched from the so-call-
ed Schwab yards. at Alameda, upon
the Pacific Coast. This plant IL un-
der the authority of the Bethle-
hem Steel Company and is one of
which Mr.. Schwab Is very proud.
The Defiance took the water thirty
eight days after her keel was laid
and 1t is believed that there Is no
record that can compare with this
in the rapidity Of shipbuildinE.
Those who Witnessed the launch
ing OF the Defiance had their at
tention distracted instantly by
another demonstration Of speed and
efficiency. Over the shipway upon
which the Defiance was built was a
large crane.
II carried q keel. Within six sec
onds after the Defiance took the water
this keel was lowered by the crane
into the position which the Defiance
had occupied. II is the beginning of
a steamship which Is to be called the
Eclipse. q sister ship Of the Defiance.
and the shipbuilders are confident
that in twenty-eight days after the
placing Of this keel in position the
Eclipse will be launched. Other as
tonishing feats OF efficiency and speed
have been observed by DIR. Eaton up
on the Paciffc Coast and he has learn
ed that the achievements of the ship
builders upon the Atlantic Coast ana
upon the Gulf are fairly well match
ing. the wonderful achievements OF
the shipbuilders upon the Pacific
Coast. DR.. Eaton says that we are
going to have ships in plenty within
a few months and that Is all the more
amazing. since when we entered the
war shipbuilding In the United States
was at its lowest ebb
HOLLAND.