Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial. (Wilmington, Del.) 1878-1928, 1918-07-05
AURORA LAUNCHED
Continued from page !

Sontihutu iiotu Fakt
Nearly every paraclcr carried n flag The
procession was headed by the regular
troops located here Music was furnished
nv half dozen bands.
ADDRESSED by SECRETARY REpFIELD.
The celebration was honored by the
presence of one of President Wilson's
personal representatives, Hon William c.
Red6eld. who with the Hon George GRAY,
John :. RoSSell, Josiah Marvel and
Harry Jamison addressed the throng
in front of the Public Buildings from
a special platform. Besides the speakers
on the stand were Mayor Lawson, Colonel
Slower. chief marshal and members of the
committee of arrangements, members of
INSPIRING PATRIOTIC OCCASION.
With the big craft gaily decorated with
American flags. and with Secretary of
Commerce Redficld. Judge George Gray,
prominent plant officials and their ladies,
as well as other distinguished persons.
including the Aurora delegation, on the
large stand erected at the prov of the boat,
and with the Pusey & Jones band playing
patriotic airs. on another stand nearby.
and with flags flying all over the yard and
from every masthead. and with thousands
of women and children in white, the
scene was most inspiring and patriotic,
az cheer after cheer went up following
every incident and every patriotic re-
mark of the speakers.
Though it was not generally known,
nevertheless it Is fact that on the spot
where the Aurora was launched yesterday,
there was launched, at the Thatcher ship
yard, which was then there, In 1862, the
American gunboat Potomac, one of the
first wooden vessels OF her type To be
off ka { fXrIi ar
broke out. There were number of per
sons present, however, who recalled thus
fact, among them Charles Morgan, who
is now connected with the pOstOtfICc.
Following the launching Of the Aurora
General Manager Lee introduced Nccsc
karfvc, marine manager Of the yard,
who complmcnted the men on their
achievement and showed how their efforts
are helping to win the war
TRIBUTE TO WORKERS INDUSTRY.
Mr. Ice. who followed. paid hugh
tribute 10 the industry Of the shiphuIldcrs
Of Wilmington He said not long ago he
had been asked whether he believed labor
realized the tremendous responsibility III
this war that rests ON its shoulders, and
his reply was that il the qucstioncr could
see what the men at the Iusey 4 Jones
establishment are doing they would get
their answer lie told Of the wonderful
development in the plant in the past two
years.
'.In number Of rivcts driven and ton
mage produced each day IN tho yard.
he said. this establishment IS not cXccllcd
nv any in the United States now This
Is based on actual figures, not CROSSWORD
Il want right mere to make a confession.
and il is an honest confession. he said,
directing his remarks particularly TO the
shlpylrd men. 1T Is this Last February.
in testifving before the Federal ADJUST
ment Board. in Philadelphia, said that
in some of the shipvar,is some OF the men
were loafinC Now | take il back. The
men in the ship-huildng industry in Will
mingt0n are not loafng. lie was chcercd
10 the echo.
GREETING FROM THE PRESIDENT.
Secretary Of Commerce Rcdheld
brought a greeting from the President.
ut is difficult to appreciate, he said,
what n terrible burden the President is
carving, and few know except those Of us
who arc directly associated with him.
Much Of this burden he must carry alone,
but YOU men. by your daily work here are
helping him to hear that burden and he
knows it and appreciates 1t, and he Is de-
pending on YOU TO help him. What YOU
have done and finished this morning makes
him feel glad,
'It Is a terrible task for rs to send our
bows across the seas to be sacrificed. but
when the men. women and children at
home are working 10 hold up the Presi-
dents hands and support our boys who
have gone into the ire vOnder. II makes
he task that much easier and Is helping
70 WIN the war and to keep up the good
cheer"
Secretary Redfeld pictured the differ
ence between American manhood, mill
tary and civil, and that OF the enemy. lie
pointed out where the latter giOats IN the
destruction Of women, children and the
home while no American officer, he said,
would ever order such a thing done and no
American soldier would ever do such a
thing lie showed by Incidents coming 10
his notice. how the Americans are protect
ing the dcfenccless IN France.
We are fighting an evil thing he
declared. that holds woman up to scOrn
and childhood as contemplate, that has
no regard either for home or for life. You
men. with your rIvets and your plates
are helping with the fight against the evil
that threatens your very homes. You
are helping 10 make the home righteous
and peaceful place IN which 10 1--we. Think
OF the devastated homes IN Belgium,
northern rance anu cGfDla- DuJ LilcFS are
l00000000 free men and women in
America that viii pull together as one and
Will not let UP. until We have rushed this
evil from the very earth.
GEN ERAL PERsHING's GREETING.
Following Secretary Redfeld's speech
MIR Lee announced that cable message
had just been received by the Pusey 4
Jones Co from General Pershing, which
he read 1t follows:
Somewhere in France, July 4, 1918
''Pusey d Jones CO,
Wilmington, Del.
"The launching OF about 100 ships on
the Fourth Of July IN the yards Of the
United States IS the most inspiring mes
sage that has come to US All sections Of
the Army IN France send congratulations
and heartfelt thanks to the patriotic boys
In the shipyards at home. No more de-
rant answer could be given TO the enemy
challenge and with this sort Of backing we
cannot help but win. All hail to American
shipbuildersl Pershing
With the playing Of The Star SpangLsd
II