The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-08-06
FIRST LAUNCHING AT HOG ISLAND
 YARD YESTERDAY
Stage of Quantity Produc- tion of Ships by U. s. Is Reached in Building
 Programme

Philadelphia, August 5-The United States today began to replace the tonnage sunk by submarines in the days before the allied shipyards had reached a production equal to the toll of the U-boats.
 With the launching of the 75oo- tor Quistconck, sponsored by Mrs. Woodrow Wilson. and with President Wilson and n notable gathering as spectators, the stage of quantity production of sliip;; was reached in the building programme of the United States. From this time forward the increasing output of yes sells will not merely offset the naval If forts of Germany, but will steadily maxe up the deficiency in world tonnage.
 The Quistconck is the first ship to 5e launched from the great Hog Island ship yard and the occasion was made worthy of the "epoch in the nations history" which hartman Hurley of the shipping board declared it marked. The men who huilt the ship and the men who directed their WI rk, mingled in comradely spirit with government officials, while the presence of the chief executive and his wife was the source of intending enthu siaSm.
 FINE, SAYS WILSON
 That's fine!" the President exclaimed jubilanuy to Mrs. Wilson, as his, eye swept over tte gigantic ship manufactur- ..1 OO nhh Al ..J and many other thousands of specta- tors
 Hardly had the President and Mrs. Wilson arrived at the christening stand than a huge basket of pink roses was presented to the Presidents wife. The bearer was William McMillen, the man who drove the first rivet in the Quist conck. Mrs. Wilson dropped her bou- quet of orchids to take some of the gorgeous pink blossoms, then grasped both of McMillens hands to thank him for the gift. He replied that the yard employees were grateful for her coming, which, he declared, was a real service in inspiring them to fresh efforts.
 My services are nothing compared to yours,' she answered quickly.
 MRS. WILSON SPONSOR
 American made champagne was used for the christening. Mrs. Wilson was shown how to handle the be-ribbon sd bottle, the President laughing merrily as she practiced the blow in panto- mime.
 DO it right, now,' he cautioned her
 When the blocks were knocked away and the hull began to move, Mrs. Will son raised the bottle and struck the prov squarely.
 T christen thee Quistconck," she said, giving the boat the ancient In- dian name of Hog Island. There was a silver spurt and the sponsor stepped back in laughing dismay, as the wine stained the delicate grey of her dress. | She forgot the mishap in the interest i of watching the hull slide into the 1 water and the newly vacated way ] swarm with workmen, who laid keel | No. 39 in less than minutes after the l finished boat had gone. President 1 Wilson stepped eagerly to the front | of the stand to get clear view of the l work.
 Immediately after the launching the | President and Mrs. Wilson and their | party were accompanied to their train | by Chairman Hurley, Director General | Schwab and Vice President Piez of the l fleet corporation, and Fred | erick Holbrook, president of tie | American International Shipbuilding { corporation. A cheering crowd of | yard workers surrounded the car be- | fore it was coupled to an engine and l the President and Mrs. Wilson re- | mained on the platform, despite an intense heat which prostrated nearly | 400 spectators at the launching.
 NO, I've been working too hard | to prepare a speech" the President re- | piled to shouted requests that he Say | 
 Because of the heat Chairman Hur- ley abandoned the address which he had prepared as the keynote of the 1 but told many of the spec tators who called for speech that he would have liked to make the pub lie tribute to the workmen which he had planned