The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-07-16
How They Launch Ships ut Ecorse.


pletely than 1t has hitherto been told
In the East the story of the launching.
on July 4, of three 1850 lightweight
ton ships at the Great Lakes Engi-
neerlng Works Mt Ecorse, Mich. The
ceremony was unique. The whole
affair was managed by the men who
built the vessels, the superintendent
and officers of the yards acting merely
in an advisory capacity, and being
left with nothing to do. One Of the
members of the committee in charge
of the launching was Riveter ALBERr
BEIKEy, who drove 1888 rivets in
the bottom OF ship in eight hours,
and who holds that his record has
never been beaten. The other men,
bers we're RICHARD MAcKELpEy, presi-
dent, ROBERT Bruce, ALBERT II. HErER-
JOHN F. STRONG and RoBExr WHITE.
When the men took hold Of the job
their first task was to write an invi-
tatiOn for those whom they desired
as their guests. They consulted no
stationer. They evolved the form
from their own Consciousness Of the
eternal fitness Of things. The admi-
rable product of their genius exerted
in an unfamiliar medium bore on one
side these words:
THE committee OF employees OF the
Eoorse plant OF the Great Lakes Engi-
nearing Works cordially invites you and
your guests TO be present on Thursday
morning, July Fourth, 1918, at s 40. at
the initial start Of Three Messages to
the Kaiser"
On the other side the details of
each message" were given:
Each message is aSs feet long, COM
Of our steel against the Kaiser's steal.
These messages will cross the Atlantic
and carry our greetings to the front line
men from the second line Of national de-
fence They will carry the food you have
saved. the wool you have not used, the
fats for warmth in winter. guns and shells
to fight with, and ambulances bought
with the money you have subscribed.
The Fourth OF July II our great day
which marks our winning OF national
freedom. and this year It comes to US
with tremendous meaning. as our coun-
try Is again fighting for its right to be
q free nation"
At s 30 o'clock the parade formed
at the River Rouge bridge under
which the Eagles will move from the
Ford shipbuilding plant to their
work Of commerce protection. The
Soldiers of the Shipyard" wore their
parade uniforms-white shoes, khaki
trousers and hats Of red or white or
blue, according to their places In line.
A miniature freight ship, manned by
boys, was shown on one float; an
other carried Uncle SAM, COLUMBIA
and BRITANNIA. Six companies Of
smoked Yankees, led by their own
wonderful band, appeared from Fort
Wayne; the eO7th Aero Squadron, the
Red Cross, Boy Scouts, Campfire
Girls and other interesting units were
In line. They only framed the ship
builders, to whom went the honors Of
the day. The representatives Of the
various departments Of the yards
Identified themselves with banners.
Thus, the night shifts displayed this
poem, written especially for the occa-
sion:
ATTENTION, KAIsERi
kaiser BILL. Kaiser BILL,
This bunch will make you very Ill;
For while you sleep. we are working well
To send you and your Huns TO He'll"
The filter helpers modestly an
nounced 1--WE are carrying our end"
Another banner made known the fact
I'VE are with you, SCHwAB, 5000
strong" there being 5000 workers In
the yard. Another burst Of poetry:
I'VE punch the plate and angle
That will make tho Kaiser strange"
Michigan is a dry State. but three
bottles OF foaming liquid appropri-
ately camouflaged were present ut the
launching, to be broken In the time