The Washington herald., 1918-08-02
SECTIONS SEEK
SHIPYARD LEAD
DR.. Eaton Reports Rivalry;
Schwab Unifies Workers,
Says Holland.


tour which took in all Of the ship
ways and shipbuilding plants OF the
United States. speaks with enthusiasm
of the relation of Charles NJ. schwap
to the amazing speeding up Of ship
construction throughout the country.
DR.. Eaton says that Mr.. Schwab.s in
fiuence. and especially the intimate
personal relations between dimself
and the workers. bring about results
which, nnetaphoricaliy speaking, iep-
resent the additional work of thous-
Furthermore. Mr.. schwab has no
illusions respecting our shipbuilding
capacity. He Is a master mind 1T
assimilatng details and extracting
from them the meaning that In con-
tanned In them. He seems to know
intuitiyely whether reports which sre
made to him contain any errors or
are based on unjustifiable expecta-
tions. and he is able to eliminate these
features so that he arrixes quickly
at accurate general conclusions.
That undoubtedly is the reason why
Mr.. Schwab now feels justified in say
ing that within another twelve months
the United States will have under
navigation 30 large a fleet of cargo
and soldier-carrytng vessels as sur
stantially to eliminate the danger II
loss occasioned by submarine at
tacks.
Argentina Wheat.
II we had the ships. Mr.. Hoover
would be able greatly to enlarge his
offer to the American people so far
as the use of wheat is, concerned.
For nothing but lack Of tonnage pre-
vents a large export Of wheat from
Argentina. So also In Australia, a
fine wheat harvest has been garnered,
and. IL there were tonnage available,
this could be speedily exported to
Europe.
In another year, ample shipping
will be available for bringing the
wheat harvests Of Argentina and
Australia to Great Britain, France
end Italy. This will be accomplished
while at the same time the move
ment of troops and supplies will
continue upon q scale as large as,
IL not larger than. that OF the pres
ent-
schwab and the Artisans.
II IL undoubtedly due In consider
able measure to the influence of Mr.
Schwab that the danger Of extern
stve strikes among shipbuiiders and
vorkmen who manufacture machin-
ecy. especially boilers with which the
ships are to be installed, has been
in great measure averted. There was
apprehension lest the threatened
strike upon the Great Lakes ships
would cripple severely lako shipping.
Although Mr.. Hurley. chairman Of
the Shipping Board, acted so as to
make 1t possible to call of the thre at
ened strike, nevertheless the infu-
ence of Mr.. Schwab was also Of great
avail In bringing aoout satisfactory
understanding WHEREBY this strike
was avoided.
A Great Achievement.
Mr.. Schwab Is reported as having
| said that the United States has now
become. within a year. the greatest
shipbuilding nation in tho wvrid. He
was undoubtedly correctly quoted, be-
cause the Shipping Board has statis-
tcs which tell Of wonderful construc-
ton of ships accomplished by the
United States in the past year.
The launching Of nearly one hun
dred ships on July 4 will probably be-
come chief among the traditions as
ISOLATED with American shipbuildins
| since We entered the war.
But there must be many successive
launchings OF ships IL we are to have
the abundant supply of tonnage which
Mr.. Schwab predicts we will have bo-
fore another year is passed.
The Emergency Fleet Corporation
authorizes a statement Of this kind to
be made:
"In spite Of the remarkable per-
formances in the American shipyards
this year. in spite also of the launch
ing of nearly a hundred vessels on
July 4 and furthermore in spite OF
the encouraging progress now being
made In all the American shipysrds,
there is continual need of new ships.
We must have ships. The need can
not be borne home too forcibly or too
often. The shipbuilders should keep
it constantly in mind. The need
should be preached in every shipyard
and In 7evry shop wher material for
ship construction or operation is
made"
Few sInckers.
An appeal Of that kind, however,
seems unnecessary, for DR.. Eaton re-
ports that the shipbuilders upon the
Atlantic and the Pacific Coasts are
not relaxing in their efforts and
also that the large army of arti-
sans who are now occupied in max
ing boilers, engines and other mach
inery which are to be installed in
the ships seem to be increasing
their vigor. Few II any slackers
are at work in these shipyards.
The men are taking pride in their
work and spirit Of honorable emu
1ation characterizes the shipbuild-
ers in every shipyard in the United
States.
Before the war, or at least before
the United States declared war
against Germany, the state of Maine
retained some of the prestige which
was gained in her shipyards years
ago.. There some of the fleetest and
largest ocean-going sailing ships
were built. There the packet ships
which fifty years or more ago
brought prestige to the American
merchant marine were built.
Now the Emergency Fleet Cor
poration learns that in the State of
Maine there is honorable rivalry
maintained between the shipbuild-
ers and the shipbuilders upon the
Pacific Coast
Marines Efforts.
Maine has already gained records
for rapid ship construction. A steam
er which was christened the Cumber-
land was launched at one of the Maine
shipyards 135 working days after her
keel was laid and within four minutes
after the Cumberland was launched
the keel Of another ship was pliced
in position upon the shipways.
Machinery installation was begun in