Evening journal., 1918-05-02
VI. {. COXE As CHIEF
AIDE TO MR.. SCRWAP
Washington Confirms Re-
port Of Wilmington Mans
Selection for Place
HAS WIDE EXPERIENCE
IN SHIP INT TRY

All the shlph"nding along the Della
ware p an the entire Phnadel-
phia ct hereafter be directed
bv \ "A O.. Coke, Of Wilmington /
Ann cement that Mr.. Coke had been /
appolnted 40 assume charge Of ihis
important work by Charles NJ. sohwap'
Director General Of Shiphuildins Tor
Uncle sam, was frs. reported by THE
EVENING JOURNAL on Tuesday ana
came onlcially from Washington yes
terday. Mr.. Coke is q member oi tno
Board OF Water Commissioners ol thls
city and 30 far as is known will con-
tlnue to reside In Wilmington
II is believed that this Is the urst OF
Nr. Schwab's strokes aimed at geltne
he maximum Of efficiency out OF the
american shipbuildlng industry. Mr.,
Coke Is an experienced ship expert, ana
he report Is 10 the effect mat ne VIII
supersede Admiral Bowles IN the direc-
ton OF work at the shipyaFds ID 'hls
district
rhe substance Of this appointment Is
that Mr.. Coke will be second In com
mand Of all the ship work Of the United
states. actually directing all the work
on approximately twO-thirds OF the
ships which are being rushed out 70
answer the Kaisers submarines ana
give America the greatest mefcnanl
marine OF any nation in the world
Mr. Coke was formerly president OF
The Harlan & Hollingsworth corpora,
lion and Is a close personal friend anl
business associate Of Mr.. Schwab. hS
has had wide experience as a snip
builder. having been connected WIZ
Cramps Shipyards. He served IN th'
Spanish-American war as an engineer
and was badly injured by an explosion
on his ship. lie Is son-in-iaw o. "a
late Georee 2. Baer, president OF IN
Reading Railway,
Nr. Coke was born at Reading, Pa
February % 1869. After eomplelinI
his classical studies he was sent u
, Germany to study naval 0rchitectur
al the famous Royal Technical Goiles
OF Charlottenhurg Having thus lm
blbed the best technical education
available he proceeded % acquire IN
practical knowledge Of shipbulldin
methods BY becoming an apprentice
the great shipyards Of Clyebank, sco'
land, and Bremerhayen, Germany.
Ills next step in the requirement {
his encyclopedias knowledge OF shl
construction was 10 go TO sea as an eI
gineer In ships Of the North Germs
LLOYD American Line, Red star an
other lines. During the Spanish-Ame
lcan War his experience aloat IS
marine engineer served him IN goS
stead when he received a copimissit
as Lieutenant engineer In the Unit
States navy. At the close 0f the W
he became connected with tie Villa
Cramp 6 Sons Shlpbullding Compan
where he remained until March ~, ~
when he was selected by the lnteres
in control Of the Harlan & hollns
worth Corporation 10 become ne pr'
ideni. lie retired from that once
Gently
Whiis at Cramps Mr.. Coke was
trusted with missions during which
had an opportunity 10 make use Of |
cosmopolitan point " view acquir
through residence abroad and iorel
travel. Thus he was entrusted wlth
delivery 90 Japan Of the cruiser y
sagi" and Of the delivery 90 Russia
The cruiser "Nar.ag' and the pattlesl
"Retuzan.' i will be remember
That the "Nsriag' was sunk In bat
by the japanese az Chemulpo, but y
later relocated and Is now Japan
unit under the name Of 'soya.'
'Retvizan" was sunk by the hussi.
at Port Arthur, but was relocated az
the war and Is now the japanese Q
tleship "Hizen."
Another diplomatic mission wn
Mr.. Coke was called upon TO perte
was the delivery 20 Turkey OF
cruiser "Medlidieh"