The Washington herald., 1918-06-03
SHIP OUTPUT
NOW BEATING
HUN SINKINGS
Victory in Great Tonnage
Race Assured Through
u. S. Efforts.
SCHWAB PUSHING ON
Enormous Growth of Build
ing Power to Give Amer
lea Lasting Strength.
SCHWAB PUSHING ON

ia LootiiiS SliSiiStii'
The month of June will witness, for
the first given period since the ruth
less submarine warfare by Germany
forced the United States into war. a
production of ship tonnage greater
than the loss to the United States. the
allied nations and neutral nations.
This statement can be made virtu-
ally without qualification. Only a
catastrophe of untold magnitude to
the shipyards or the ships of the navy
Of the United States and the allied ma
tions can prevent the triumph of ship
building over destruction in the race
for the biggest stakes the world has
ever known.
The United States Shipping Board,
under the Craftsmanship of Edward N.
Hurley, backed by the genius, the
wealth and the great resources of this
nation, has made possible this sheer
strength victory over the assassins of
the sea.
Schwab's Driving Power Counts.
Charles NJ. Schwab, the new direc-
tor general of the Emergency Fleet
Corporation, is the man who will build
the ships from the groundwork laid by
the Shipping Board. and it is his pro-
gram OF production. with the force OF
his personality. his executive capacity
and driving power. that will push the
line of production VIGOROUSLY across
the line OF destruction before the end
of the month.
There is a great deal more In the
work of the United States Shipping
Board and the Emergency Fleet Cor
poration than the notable victory OF
production over destruction. Toe
work that is being done will affect the
future as much as it does the present
and will have much to do with shao-
ing the destinies of the country when
the world Is again at peace. 1t means
America first upon the seas, the great
carrier of her own and the commerce
of the world.
Since the beginning of the war
within the last year, in fact-tht
United States has not only become the
greatest shipbuilding nation of the
world but her capacity for ship pro.
duction has grown so enormously
that it is on this date practically
twice that Of all the other nations
of the earth combined.
May Hold irst Place.
Having att I'D this supremacy
where she cJunts her lead, not as
against another single nation. but as
against all the other nations com.
bined, the United States will never
relinquish it. She has the wealth
the man-power. the material, the re-
sources and the will to do, and the
great navy that Is being built up in
dependent of the shipbuiIding pro-
gram-a greater navy than the people
realize-will be ready to take up its
duty Of protecting the great fleets ol
merchantmen which will sail the
seven seas and make our flag the
most familiar of foreign colors in
every port of the world.
The submarine sinkings for Nav
have not yet been announced. They
are awaited with greatest interest or
account of the splendid British nava,
achievements in their destructive
raids and blockading operations against
the submarine bases OF Zeebrugge and
Ostend. 1t is known that the German
admiralty had planned a submarine
drive coincident with the land oper.
ations of Germany's great effort fo,
crushing military decision. As a
result of that preparation the full
extent 10 which the submarine war.
fare was affected by the British nava'
ralds may not appear in the opera.
rons OF the U-boats this month, as
many OF them had been prepared al
other bases. Unofficial reports, how.
ever. Indicate that the total tonnage
OF allied and neutral shipping de.
stroyed in the month of May will bs
less than that of April.
100000 Tons I'm June.
Director General Schwab has an.
nounced that 100000 deadweight tons
OF shipping will be launched. from
American yards in June. That figure
is In excess Of the regular program
out Schwab has made the announce.
ment and 1t would be hard to find q
man who knows him who would bel
against him being able to carry out
his own program.
A fair rate of progress in shipbuild.
ing Is reported from England and
spurred on by the progress that Is be-
ing made in America she has a pro-
gram of 10000 deadweight tons to be
launched in June. England NAV be
depended upon to launch this tonnage,
In the belief Of officials of the Ship
ping Board. The other nations. In
Guiding neutrals, will launch at least
5000 deadweight tons during the
month. There is nothing to interfere
with their program. and the vessels
when completed, will pass under the
control of the nUited States Shipping
Board through trade agreements.
The total tonnage launched in June,
therefore, should be 100000 deadweighi
tons. Granted that the navies will
hold the submarines in check and the
figures Of destruction will not ex-
ceed those Of April, the launchings
for single month will exceed the
loss by 10000 deadweight tons. and
the feat will be in every sense the
greatest accomplishment rof the war.
IL a