The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1918-12-18
SHIPPING BOARD
REPORT REVEALS
US. WAR RECORD
The Board Recommends CON-
pIetion Of Huge Shipbulld-
ing Program to Meet World
Trade Future.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 1s.-Completior
Of the great merchant marine construc'
ton program as it now stands modified
to meet the coming Of peace and still
further extension Of shipbuilding is rec
commended by the United states ship
ping board in Its second annual report to
congress recently made public. The pues.
ton of a permanent merchant marine
program is left for future determination,
the board indicating that it will have
suggestions regarding both development
and operation at the conclusion of in
Nestigations now in progress.
Describing the tremendous fleet now
operated by the government, the report
shows how enemy tonnage was secured
not only by taking over vessels in
by purchasing and chartering from 9TH
er nations which likewise had seized
GerWan and Austrian ships. Cuba,
China, Siam, Brazil, Uruguay and Peru
all aided the United states and the al
lies in this regard. The cost ri repair.
ing the German and Austrian vessels
amounted to approximately ll,ls4,-
So, 10.
The fleet corporation of
the board owned on Nov, II, according
to the report, a total OF ASS new ships,
Of 2,64S,S 92 lightweight; 81 former Ger
man vessels og 343 ,206 lightweight tons,
six former Austrian vessels, aggregatins
5 ,262 deadweight tons, n 80 other
ships. 1928 tons,
OF the 81 Dutch vessels taken over
under presidential proclamation, 81 of
2S6,3A0 lightweight tons, We're managed
by the shipping board and the others
By the nsyy, There were @2S foreign
charter to the board on this date and
$50 American ships of 2,9l0, 1855 dead
weight tons under requisition, making a
total fleet Of 1895 vessels ~aggregating
I,49S,075 lightweight tons owned, man
aged or chartered by the shipping
board.
With regard to the requlsitioning of
American tonnage, the report says.
Perhaps no phase, of the shipping
boards work has been more difficult to
adjust fairly and satisfactorily than
that involved in the requisitioning Of
ships for use Nevertheless most own.
ers have co-operRted with excellent
spirit"
Contracts and commitments OF tho
emergency fleet corporation for the con-
struCtion Of ships made during the yeaf
provided for ,296 steel cargo ships, or
1857. sos lightweight tons. 50 steel tank
kers Of 1877, 0OO lightweight tons. "a steel
IFFpDD SHIPS OF fNi,NVN utduWflEnl IONS,
> steel hospital ships Of "a, 900 dead
weight tons; 4 steel refrigerator ships
Of ~, 500 lightweight tons, 1914 ocean
going steel tugs and 5 steel haFhor tugs,
and Is steel barges Of 81, 500 deadweight
tons.
The wood and composite ship con
tracts called for ISL complete wood
ships Of 7OT,b 300 lightweight tons; SIS
hulls OF 1871, 600 lightweight tons: lao
harges of 359, 500 d%eadweight tons; 16s
wood tugs. and 80 composite ships OF
$4,000 lightweight tons.
From the time OF It's organization up
to Aug. 81, 1918, says the report, the
corporation had negotiated 9tS contracts
a~ggregating 2,29S vessels, with a total
Of l4,lie, 1870 lightweight tons, involving
an estimated cost of $2,3l9. 2l6, 2O4.
Dealing with the steel ship program,
the report states that efforts OF the
steel ship construction division have
been devoted to acoelerating the con.
stEuCtion Of On fps, obtaining ships suit
quality Of new construction and obtain
ing ships at reasonable prices. During
The year ending Aug. 81 b66 keels were
laid. 35s ships launched and 2S7 ships
Of 1900, 900 lightweight tons completed
With regard to the wood ship pro.
gram, the report says the board has
recognized that more careful attention
should be given ships of large size, and
after Investigation has decided to rec.
ommend that efforts be concentrated
upon the construction Of a 1000 tor
flush deck wood ship, which would b.
as strong as the 3,bo0-ton types nov
being built, and which could be pro,
duced at a saving OF approximately S2t
| per ton, At the present time ten type.
Of wood ships OF 1880, 1000 and S,0ot
lightweight tons are being turned out.
Since Aus. ! wood ship production ha;
averaged at least one complete. ready,
for-service wood steamship per ealendai
day, and the report declares this aver,
Z will increase,
During the fiscal year ending June 80
III American vessels of 94,740 dead
weight tons were transferred to foreign
registry, permits being granted by III,
board when special circumstances indi
Gated that the change would not injur,
the national interest. During the sam,
period foreign built vessels placed un
der American regustry numbered 10, o
b4B. asS lightweight tons, not ~includinl
vessels OF Dutch registry taken owe
by the president.