The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1918-07-11
THE ESBIPBUILDING RECORD
YEAR JUST CLOSED BEATS ALL
OTHERS IN TONNAGE.
Total Added Tonnage, 1,43O, 1913,
More Than Double Germany's
Output in Peace Time.

Washington, July 3.-On the eve
of the greatest ship-launching day in
history, the bureau of navigation OF
the department of commerce announc-
ed tonight that the fiscal year just
closed exceeded all previous years in
new ships built in this country, CIV
ing the United States merchant ma
rine of 10,040,65S gross tons and
numbering nearly thirty thousand
vessels.
In the twelve months ended June
80, there were 1922 new ships of l.
43O,793 gross tons numbered by the
bureau, more than double the output
of German yards in peace time. Great
Britain's production in the same Pc
riod has not been made public, but
in the year ended May 81, it amount
ed to 1,4O6,S3S gross tons, or about
70 per cent of the normal annual out
put.
Requisitioned Ships.
In addition to the merchant ships
permanently under the Stars and
Stripes, the seagoing fleet of cargo
carriers controlled by the United
States includes 100000 tons of re-
QUESTIONED Dutch ships and 404,700
tons operated by the army and navy
as transports, hospital ships, supply
transports and other auxiliary craft,
besides yachts and similar vessels
under five hundred tons employed in
considerable numbers in military and
naval service.
One half of the fiscal years out
put of ships! was completed in the last
four months. The total included 253
seagoing steel steamers of 1,O34,6O4
gross tons and 157 seagoing wooden
vessels of 213,0SS tons, the remaind-
er being vessels for the lakes, rivers
and domestic transportation, except
one concrete seagoing steamer of 81
APT gross tons.
Will be Eclipsed.
Even this record production, how
ever, undoubtedly will be eclipsed In
the fiscal year just starting, for many
new yards are just beginning to get
into full operation and the great fab
ricating yards have not yet begun to
add finished ships to the cargo fleets.
Losses sustained by the merchant
marine included for the past three
months, were S2,049 tons of seagoing
vessels, including ten of 14,707 gross
tons sunk by submarines off the At
latic coast in May and June.
Close Rival.
The growth of the shipbuilding in
dustry in this country in the last two
years has been a close rival of many
businesses which have given America
it's reputation as great industrial
nation. The records of the bureau of
navigation show that in the twelve
months ended June 80, 1917, the re-
Nuisance of shipbuilding had just
started, there were completed in
American yards 1880 ships of 347,-
147 gross tons. Another twelve
months saw the number increased to
1,546 ships of S12,659 gross tons
and in the year just ended, this ton
mage output was nearly doubled,
while the number of ships grew to
1922. Instead of small craft for do
mestic transportation, the yards now
are building great oceangoing ships
to carry men and supplies to France
and later to establish new lines Of
communication between the United
States and Latin-America, and teh
Orient.
The launching of nearly 100 ships
tomorrow, a declaration of Ameri-
can independence of foreign merchant
shipping, will be celebrated by words
of appreciation by President Wilson,
Chairman Hurley, General Pershing
and the Americans fighting in Europe.
.
NEGRO SOLDIERS HANG.