The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1918-09-27
(By Associated Press)

NEW YORK. Sept. 27.-Miles of
shipways. their timbers towering
above marsh-girted bays and rivers;
hundreds of bulls. their naked or half
clad rigs yawning skyward; acres of
giant cranes and derricks. machine
shops and sawmills-this, in compos-
tie, is a picture of war-ridden ship
building on the North Atlantic coast
where more than 10000 men are
striving to help make good the nations
promise of bridge of ships" from
the homeland to it's soldiers overseas.
These men, equivalent almost to
four divisions of the troops whose
needs they are serving, have complet-
ed 65 vessels, capable Of carrying
$4,000 tons of cargo on single trip.
They have launched 20 others. And
all this in year when preparation
rather than production necessarily has
been the task of the newly created
eastern yards.
Make Schwab forget the Pacific"
was the placarded message which
greeted the Emergency Fleet Corpora
tons directorgeneral when he visited
Connecticut shipyard. The enthus-
iasm which dictated the slogan is ex-
hibited by great majority of the man.
ayers and workers in the plants which
dot the coast from Maine to Virginia
and inland waters as far west as Lake
Erie. Outdistanced in production
early in the war by the already organ
lied shipbuilding industry of the
Pacific, the Atlantic yards now are
getting their stride. and STANDARDIZED
ton of their output-a type to plant
will speed the work. They have
performed a miracle in assembling
materials, erecting plants and hous-
ings. training shipbuilders and build
ing ships.
In this accomplishment, which in
peace times would have occupied five
years rather than twelve months,
there has been a graphic illustration
of the first half of the War Depart
ment's work or fight" policy. Not
by compulsion--for the shipbuilders
are volunteers-men have flocked by
thousands to the Atlantic yards and
have labored through days of ten
hours. There is nothing figurative
in the sweat of the riveter's brow.
And the riveter. backbone of the in
dustry. is typical of his fellows. Wages
are high, from the laborer's $4.4O to
the rivet drivers $40 or $50 day,
but emergency has compelled their
payment.
Spirit Typical Of U. S.
Production, encouraging as it is,
has not kept pace with the Emerg-
ency Fleet Corporations program
There are many contributing causes
scarcity of materials. transportation
delays, inadequate labor supply and
absenteeism of workmen. Some of
the shipworkers cannot stand the
prosperity which suddenly has become
their lot. The result is five days
work where there might be six, and
a consequent slowing up of production.
Near the larger cities absenteeism
averages Is to 20 per cent, tapering
down to 5 and 10 per cent in the more
isolated communities. Managers, at
first attributing the trouble to Sunday
work, when employees drew double
pay and, in many cases. laid off,
week day for recreation, genera lily
have discounted seven-day operation,
except in emergencies. But every
days muster still has its list of abb
sentees, obviously a serious blow to
efficiency.
But "slackerism' is an offense of
the minority. The real spirit of the
shipyards is typical of America at
war. Propaganda plays it's part, a tel
ling one, and by means of competition
in construction, honor roofs of high
production and MONDAY meetings de-
signed to emphasize the importance
of the shipworkers' share in the ma
tional effort, enthusiasm is maintain
ed at high pitch and is reflected in
output.
Every plant has its school, where
bridgebuilders and structural iron
workers learn to erect steel ships
and where house carpenters are taught
the principles of wooden null construc-
ton. In both branches of the industry,
as WELL many laborers have passed
tests which have rated them as skilled
workmen. In the yards of the Sub
marine Boat Corporation at Newark.
the school gangs" have built and
launched three $500 ton steel freight
ers, an inspiring example of the Ameri-
can way of doing things when they
have to be done.
The shipyards army. like the khaki
clad force whose going to foreign soil
II intn hoino ic on fio,,