South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-01-20
PROGRESS OF SHIP
PROGRAM GOOD
Inquiry Into Activities of
Board Shows Work Has
Been Satisfactory.

WASHINGTON, d. G, Jan. I2.-
ships wiz win the war This was
no word brought 10 the United
states BY the French and British
missions shortly after the United
states Joined the allied nations in
he struggle for world democra cy-
II ships will win the war, the
United States viii provide them. was
the promise made b. Pres't Wilson
to the French and British and that
promise Is being kept. Enough
has already been done 10 insure the
success OF Americas gig3utic ship
building program.
Under the direction Of the United
States shipping board the work OF
providing the vessels that viii car
~ an abundance Of supplies and
war materials TO the battle zone is
progressing satisfactorily. This has
been demonstrated by the senatorial
inquiry into the activities OF the
shipping board.
Chairman Hurley and his asso-
ciates are gradually meeting the
stupendOus demands made upon
hem. Never before i'm the worlds
history has such "A task been at
tempted It's accomplishment would
have been declared impossible in
any other age or in any other land.
The great strides already made by
he administration in assembling
what is destined 10 be the greatest
merchant armada ever constructed
was a pleasing revelation even 10
critical senators
Great sum Available.
Congress placed at the disposal Of
the president through the shipping
board an authorization Of 1889
617.5O0 for the acquisition of mer-
chant vessels. OF this sum $1,000
617. 500 has already been apprO-
priated. Under this authorization
the United States Emergency Fleet
corporation. which is the construc-
ton agency of the shipping board,
has placed contract for TIE con-
struction Of 996 vessels with a total
dead weight capacity Of 5,511100
tons.
In addition, the shipment board
has Communicated 49, ships of all
types. with "a total dead weight ca
pacity Of 3,056,0OO tons. All yes
sells of the latter class were either
In the course Of construction for
domestic or foreign account. or had
been contracted for TO be construct
ed in American yards at the time
Of the issuance of the commander
order OF Aug last. BY the act
of communicating, the Emergency
FJ.et corporation assumed the con
t-acts for these ships, and is hav-
inx them completed with all pos
sible speed
At the present time. 40 of these
ships, aggregating 3O0,8 65 tons dead
weight capacity have already been
completed and released. This gives
"a total Of 1,427 vessels with a total
dead weight capacity Of S,573,10S
tons actually under construction or
contracted for. In addition, con-
tracts are pending before the Emer-
gency corporation for vessels ag-
gregating $4,000 tons dead weight
capacity
The total building program Of the
Emergency Fleet corporation, in
Guiding ships Communicated in the
course of construction and those
contracted for and TO be contracted
for. will exceed 10000. 600 tons. OF
this amount il is proposed that APP
proximately 100000 tons shall be
constructed during the calendar
year 1918. The remainder Of the
construction program viii run well
into the year 1919.
Million Tons in 1918.
or the total OF $50 ships which
has been contracted for by the
Emergency Fleet corporation and
which does not include the 451
commandment ships. 379 ships,
with total dead weight capacity
of 1,344,g0O are wooden vessels; SIS,
with a total dead weight capacity
OF 100000 tons. are composite; and
SIS. with a total dead weight ca
pacity of 3,527, 400 tons, are steel.
OF the ships commandeered and
BUILDING under contract with the
fleet corporation. approximately l.
600 600 tons will DE completed aud
ready for release by April 1. 1918.
In addition 10 vessels comman-
deered and undc' contract by the
Emergency Fleet corporation, there
have been taken over FOR govern
ment use approximately 10000
tons OF eN-German and eN-Austr' an
ships. OF the Austrian ships all
with the exception of one which
was requisitioned, were acquired
through private parties and are
now privately owned althoush IN
. der the control OF the shipplng
BOARD.
on oct. 10 the shipping board
issued a general order requisiuoa-
ing all steam vessels Of American