Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-01-22
Uncle Sans Emergency.

Of the first magnitude is a call just issued by
the Chairman of the Shipping Board for reserve
army of skilled mechanics totaling two hundred
and fifty thousand men. Mr. Hurley's urge is adj
dressed directly to the State Councils of National
Defense since upon these bodies will fall the pa
triotic task of assembling the big force.
America is building the largest feet of ocean
carriers ever undertaken at one time by any gov
eminent, and it is vitality necessary to the safe and
successful conduct of the that we convert raw
materials into ships quickly is humanity posi-
BILE. Six months ago there we're fifty thousand
men working in the shipyards of the country. To-
day the number is approximately one hundred a@d
fifty thousand. Every rivet driven is blow at the
Kaiser, Mr.. Hurley very aptly says, and then adds
that lust the troops in the trenches in France
supported by the reserve forces behind them,
must have a large force of skilled and
patriotic workmen ready at any moment 10 enlist
in the battle for democracy in the shipyards"
AS an evidence of the earnest campaign that
will be waged throughout the country for quarter
of a million reserve army of workmen, Chairman
Hurley announces that beginning January TO-
"Four-minute men, throughout all America will
address the people on the subject of what ship
building at this time to the nation. This
campaign will cover a period of two weeks. In
his plea to the State Council Mr.. Hurley says, in
part:
Millions Of Americans have been waiting
merely to be told what service they can best
render. Trained riveters, boilermakers,
punchers, machinsts blacksmiths, carpenters,
calkers millwrights and other trained men
can render service more vitality needed
than the service of the nation in the ship
yards. The principle of CONSUMPTION, applied
to- Al How fOran of
nation, still leaves open to the workmen of
the country the opportunity to serve their
country by volunteering for work in the ship
yards, which will contribute much to the
success of the nation as the armies in France.
Every skilled workman who volunteers for
work in the shipyards may well feel that he
has joined the military forces of America.
Every rivet driven is blow at the Kaiser.
Every ship building is nearer the day of dem
ocracy's triumph. full days work in the
yards is equivalent to the taking of a German
trench Workmen who already engaged
in war work should remain at their posts.
Those who are engaged in work not contribut-
ing directly to the success of the
have their opportunity to vote for national
service. The volunteers who will constitute
the great shipyard reserve have the assurance
that they will receive standard wages and
that they will be considered part of the mil
itary forces of the United States.
So great is the shipping feed of the United
States and the Entente that it now seems more
than probable that all the sailing vessels of Amer
lean register will be requisitoned The Shipping
Board has called for report on the location OF
snch vessels. In the face of situation that is
highly unpleasant. If nothing more, the Shipping
Board should have no difficulty in recruiting its
reserve army to the required strength.