New-York tribune., 1918-03-02
Priority Orders Urged So
Vessels viii Be Built on
Scheduled Time
Conference Will
Decide Question
Need Of Bottoms Not Ap-
preciated, Hog Island
Director Declares
Especial Correspondence

PHILADELPHIA. March If car
go ships contracted for by the govern
mcnt are to be finished on schedle time
something must be done at once to in
sure the delivery Of priority orders OF
materials to the contractors aad sub
contractors cngag ged in shipbiulding.
This was the comment made by Rear
Admiral Francis T. Bowles to-day, when
his attention was called to an article in
the current issue of a magazine which
contended that the present shipbuild
ing programme Of the United States
WAS not adequate TO offset the sinlings
by German U-boats
he admiral refused to express an
obinion whether he thought the ship
building programme WAS adequate, but
he intimated strongly that the situa-
ton was serious. He said that, as q
result Of his agitation, conference
had been called in Washington of rep
resentatives OF the fuel administration,
the shipping Board and of the rail-
roads to consider the matter OF priority
orders.
Can't Build Too Many Ships
Ny opinion is. said the admiral
gravely. that we cannot build too
many ships. and that we cannot build
them too fast. The necessity is so
very great that all questions of prior
ity orders IN the manufacture Of the
Varts and equipment should be settled
once and for all by making these pri-
orit! orders superior to any other in
Gustrial authority. In the matter Of
priority orders | refer to the shipment
of materials TO shipyards and to sub
contractors engaged in the manufacture
OF parts OF ships.
My feeling is that the enormous
necessity for shipping is not appre-
cated by the authorities controlling
theose matters. The matter of ship
ping has got 10 be dealt with in
universal fashion Down in Washing
ton YOU will find let Of people, manu-
facturers of telescopes. shirts. etc, who
iirmly believe the articles they are
making are absolutely essential to WIN
Hine the war.'
Here the admiral referred to his
recent controversy with the fuel ad-
mnistration regarding priority orders
The fuel administratio lion" he said,
could not see my point at first. Of
Hcials there said manufacturers would
be confused by priority orders, but
now they are seeing my point, and they
have called 4 conference of representa-
tives Of the Shipping Board, the fuel
administration and the railroads to get
action on the matter
DO you think the contention is true
that the shipping programme of this
government IS inadequate to offset
submarine sinkings?' the admiral was
asked.
u will not answer that question:" he
replied.
Would it be possible for the present
,hipyards 10 increase their capacity
TOR producing ships
We Must Have Ships"
'.Everythlng depends upon priority
oyders." he replied "We must have
the ships
The Admiral announced he had issued
n order prohibiting smoking in the
Hog Island shipyard
Il have done this he said, first, as
:. protection against fire, and second.
% Increase the efficiency of the men"
"Dou YOU believe men are more ohi
Gent wen they don't use tobacco 90
10 do he replied. They work bet
ter when they are not smoking