The Washington herald., 1918-06-23
NINETY HULLS
TOLEAVE WAYS
JULY FOURTH

Ninety American ships will be
launched on July Z.
The big splash will sound the
coming Of the deluge to the Kaiser.
and will celebrate a new Indepen-
dence Day, not only for the United
States, but for the people of the
world.
No achievement of mankind can
be compared to this great feat OF
shipbuilding under war conditions.
1t is an answer to the challenge of
the German U~boats that makes
their vaunted raids upon shipping
in American waters but a puny ef-
fort, and puts the sea pirates hope
Iessly behind in the race between
production and sinkings.
sehwab's Energy Felt.
Chairman Edward N. Hurley OF
the Shipping Board suggested that
every hull that could be made ready
take the water on the fourth of
July. Charles NJ. Schwab. director
general of the Emergency Fleet
Corporation, put his tremendous
energy behind the project. Re-
ports have been received from all
over the country. and both Mr.. Hur-
ley and Mr.. Schwab were amazed
and gratified at the response from
the yards and the men who are en-
gagged in the important work OF
shipbuilding as the dominating fac
tor in winning the war. The
launchings will be the big event
OF the day that the whole world
can now celebrate as the most
memorable date in history.
1t Is possible that five more hulls
may be made ready for launching
on July 4. and there is even a sug-
gestion that the figures, when
known. will prove such an incen-
tive to speed in the yards than the
round number of one hundred hulls
will take the water between sun
rise and darkness on July 4. The
ninety hulls to be ready for launch
ing on that date will have a total
dead weight tonnage of 443,3S6.
Breaks Years Record.
This tonnage will be about one
third more than was the production
Of sea-borne tonnage from American
yards in the fiscal year 1915-I9l6 and
exceeds by 42,O50 lightweight. tons
the launchings for the entire year
Of 1901. which was the record pre-war
year in American shipbuilding.
What is of more interest to the
Kaiser. and he will be the one who
is most interested. is that the ton
mage which will take the water on
the fourth will be sufficient to main
tain 1875 American soldiers in
France. More than five divisions Of
fighting Americans. And all to be
supplied with fighters food and am
munition by one days launchins from
American shipyards.
Great Britain and France and Italy
will have ample cause for thanks
giving and celebration on July 4,
1918, because the achievements Of
American shipbuilding. which once
was the cause of serious doubt and
misapprehension. will then reach q
climax never dreamed of by those ma
tons. It means food and ammuni-
tion for their soldiers, and food and
subsistence FOR their civilian popu-
laton. The menace OF the submarine
blockade disappears, and after the
big splash the long roll of the rivet-
ers' hammers will start again and
grow in volume until the beat of the
music Of victory is heard around the
world.
Total May Reach 100.
The launchings set for the fourth
will exceed by eighteen the number
Of hulls. and by s5, ,436 deadweight tons
the amount OF tonnage launched dur
ing the month Of May. when seventy
one hulls, totaling s+4.45o deadweight