The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-07-14
CHINA To BUILD
STEEL SHIPS FOR
j. S. GOVERNMENT
chairman Edward N.
Hurley Lets Contract
for 10000 Tons.
SHANGHAI YARDS
Plant Is Known as kiang-
nan Dock and Is Who'll
: ly Owned by the
Chinese Empire,
SHANGHAI YARDS

Warrington, July 1s--Chatrman
Edward y. Hurley, of the shipping
hoard, today let contract for the
construction OF 100, 900 tons Of steel
khtps in the Chinese government yards
~ Shanghai. Washington officials rr-
knSd this move by the chairman of
HE shipping board Us n good business
Ind diplomatic stroke, and an import
hnt factor In cemcnting and utilizing
the strength THAI is really arrnycd
against prussian aUtocracy.
China with her @ecming millions has
Enr many years found her best friend
In the United States, and Is an ally OF
shis nation and the others at war
with Germany Thus far. only her
moral support has bcen given tn tho
allies, but she has been anxious to play
. useful part In the war and especially
pn behalf OF the United States,
Chairman Hurley In his world wide
rensus of shipbuiiding facilities which
ing ships for the allies faster than
HE German submarines could destroy
khcm, found great modern ship
building plant at Shanghai owned and
ppernted by the Chinese government
hut near to idicncss bcsau@e tho war
had practically cut of the supply Oh
Iron and steel TO China.
The plant In known a. the ktangnan
Mock and engineering works, and In
hludes the senior China government
naval dock. The entire works are
wholly owned by thu, Chinese gov
sxnment and are under the exclusive
nuntrol OF the Chinese board of the
navy. They were established in 1893,
Ind in 1904 n foreign technical Ssar
hi .htpbuilders, most of them from
Woodland and under the direction of
h b. MnuclaazA a master shipbuilder.
hook over the works and have bs>~n
operating them ever since for the
Chinese government
There are twelve launching ways in
khe yard, each one capable OF turn
knR out large steel ships OF the most
modern type and great plants and
Shops fully equipped with modern ma
Winery ana capable Of producing
powerful marine engines and all ship
accessories. The works has turned
but moro than 800 ships. all completed
b the ono plant. There is great
Try dock capable OF docking ships up
70 NA< fest in length.
Benefit OF Allies.
Chairman Hurley was anxious to
oeep this plant in operation at fut
strength for the benefit of the allies
The firrt work OF the war given 10
plant was the reha Utilization OF the
herman and Austrian vessels interned
IN China These were made sea
tN Ia 7rt
etatea. England. France and italy as
{ e.. Part Of cA'"''' contribute" to the
Before this work was com pieted
chairman Hurley had negotiations
ender way by which ships could be
built at Shanghai for the United
states. He met most hearty re-
eponse from officials on behalf OF The
Chinese government. They were
anxious to place all the facilities and
resources of China controlled by the
government at the disposition OF the
Emitted States. Mr.. Mauchan came to
Washington and today contracts were
signed by which. as first order twelve
modern vessels OF the cargo type, will
be built on account OF the shipping
board The program for construction
Of vessels as now framed calls for the
expenditure OF about 100000
In return for this friendly act on
the part OF the United states, putting
Il China practically in the same relation
ship as Japan in the matter of ship
\ building. the Chinese officials. through
Mr. Mauchan, have promised to show
their desire TO aid by setting out to
\ break all worlds records in rapid con-
etruction. Delivery of the first YES
sells will be made in about six months
and would be made much sooner but
FOR the unavoidable delay In furnish
& ing steel and Iron from this country,
AZ soon az tho materials are on hand
in quantity the shiphuilders will put
thousands OF men to work and rush
the work night and day until they are
completed.
NJ The ships to be built In China will
N be form the standardized plans of the
ehipping board and engines will be
I built along standard lines as approved
I by the shipping board and the vessels
II with be modern In every respect from
topmast to keel.
Through the agreement negotiated
~ Chairman Hurley with tho great
ehipbuilding concerns, Japan Is turn
Ing over to the shipping board a num-
lber Of ships In exchange for steel
sfrom this country. The Chinese do
mot ask such an exchange, but will
utilise the great Shanghai yard TO ca
pacity In building ships entirely for
ESShs United States ~ long - they may
- EoQutreA.