Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-02-05
LESSON FROM THE MIRACLE
OF THE SIXTEEN SHIPS

COME people imagine that the Germans
have all the brains and their enemies all
the sawdust. 1t is an idea which has been
insidiously inculcatcd. German thorough
ness and German efficiency have been
sklllfully preached as n religion through
out the world with such good effect that
some simple minded citizens are ready to
quit before putting the issue to the test.
When the campaign of ruthless sub.
5. marine warfare was decided on, a matter of
grave Importance was the German ship.
ping interned in American ports. Its use
by the United States would compensate
for months of sinkings. SO the German
brain got busy and the answer was sabot.
age. Let the machinery of the ships be
damaged beyond hope Of remedy. The
valve chests. They built fires under dry
boilers. They filled fire cxtingulslcrs with
gasoline. They concealed bolts and nuts
4 intcylindcrs They dropped ground glass
into oil pipes and bearings. They changed
indicators and plugged steam pipes. In.
deed, they carried sabotage to the limit of
damage inflicted was of such a character
rs to preclude the possibility of the vessps
being used for two years.
Enter the American engineer with some
thirty millions Of dollars, some $4,000
workmen, many welding machines and real
brain power. The Vaterand was sent to
sea. "Test her to tho limit ran the
orders. 'If there is anything wrong with
her we want to know it," SO the young
her PAGES. Everything o. n, but she's
knot faster than she used to be-" was the
REPORT, in substance. So the sixteen mutt.
lated and wrecked" German merchantmen
put to sea and they carried 10000 officers
and men to France in one trip, to say
nothing of immense quantities of provi-
sions. All the efficiency in the world is not
under the Kaiser's hat, not by a jugful.
Unfortunately not one miracle is suel-
cient. We are expected to perform scores
Of them. Were there not a submarine
Z, afoat, the shipping of the Allies would
still be insufficient for the huge task re.
quircd Of it. This has been apparent for
months. Ships and more ships has been
the constant demand Congress, at the
beginning of the war, forgot all about
economy and voted hundreds of millions
for the shipbuilding program. There was
. riot Of discussion, and also a riot of
contractietting. Men who did not know
the difference between a scow and jitney
\ formed shipbulding companies. One built
his ways so that he would have to jack
his ships up to launch them, but discovered
his error in time. Another built his ways
It such height that If the ships ever
4 could have been launched they would
side Of the river. What with fighting be.
tween officials and the antagonistic theories
Or al sorts OF experts it is a wonder that
anything at all was accomplished. Very
serious blunders were made. Some Of them
( we're Inevitable and others were mex.
, cusable.
We have faith in the Hog Island enter.
prise, but not unless the Government quits
fooling with the housing program. The
At
oonstruction into the midst of the most
Fearful winter known are threatening to
y &pld back house construction. We do not
>6nxo whether the buildings are put up
q ~ major generals or major domos, by ad.
:. .pnlr4ls or agricultural experts, so long as
4 they are put up and put up properly by
\ some responsible authority. By responsible
euthority we mean also competent author.
.1ky and not the sort Of authority that
erdered pilings for Hog Island way down
- Alabama because they were offered a
&ktIo cheaper. There are times when
opness is the most wanton extrava.
y. II ever the fight of minutes was
1rsd in gold and blood, now is that
To waste materials is blunder: to
- hours is crime.
n should like to See the efficiency
- PVT those German merchantmen to
- short period put behind the
10lng program. We believe that
hps Ne rsquisite sfsiciency ana
U . ||| .| 2 . 4
~ ~ fsr<hsr dsmonstra-