The sun., 1918-04-23
100000 TONS OF
MORSE SAILING
SHIPS FOR U. S.
Chartered by Government
to Release Many Steamers
for Oversee Service.
TO RETAIN THEIR CREWS
Yards Are Turning Out New
vessels Rapidly-Belgian
Relief Cargoes Arranged.
spee.oi DespateA to rHs Srx

bperof DeSp0tch 70 THB Sun.
WARRINGTON, April c2.-Norwegian
Ealing vessels with an aggregate ton
nass Of 100000 have been chartered ~
he Shipping Board for service in Amer
iaa and Pacific waters. These vessels
vtn be utilised to release steamships for
transatlantic service.
ne vessels were obtained on straight
charter agreement, and they will be
operated by the Shipping Board. A
majority Of the vessels are in Atlantic
waters. They will continue to ny the
Norwegian nag and carry their Nor
vsg,an crews. 1t IL believed they will
release upward Of 100000 tons Of steel
steamships for use in Transatlantic SER
NoA
Il was made plain by ofncials to-day
that there Is small possibility Of moving
ths abundance Of wheat in Australia to
he United States at this time because Of
The shipping situation. Though tonnage
availability 10 increasing rapidly Ameri-
an military demands are also increas-
inS, and there Is small margin for addi-
usaal uses.
Tho ship control committee has ar
ranged to place from $4,000 to 10000
tons Of shipping at the disposal OF tho
Belgian Relief Commission to rush grain
10 Belgium and northern France. These
countries ara threatened with starva-
ton, II is said, and there will be much
suffering II relief IL not obtained. Belgian
shipments will have preference over
hose to the neutrals depending on the
United States for foodstuffs.
.SAsaasss SAiy& -s's' =
TIE Japanese ships to be turned over
% the Shipping Board are to load with
coal at NagAsaki for Chile. delivering
IN coal cargoes In exchange for nitrates
Be brought to this country. This ar
rangement has precluded their use for
moving Australian wheat.
Director General Schwab Of the Fleet
Corporation conferred with Chairman
Hurley and vice-President Piez to-day
on his effort to speed up tho work. Mr.
schwab spent the afternoon going over
he Charles w. Morse shipyard at Alex
anAria, Va. The plant was started near
ne Virginia town on fine site ana
without housing problem.
Increase in munition and ship work.
however, has made housing acute and
his concern. Two shipways have been
completed and two more are under way.
but the plant u feeling the pinch OF
housing conditions and labor demand.
Ship production In American yards Is
nereas!ng rapidly. During the week
ending to-day there were two deliveries
and six launchings. totalling $4,000
tons One Of the deliveries was
standard $500 tons cargo carrier. the
other a lake type fre!Ehter Of 3.10o tons.
The willamette Shipbuilding Company.
Portland, Ore. delivered the $500 ton
WsEshore and the American Shibuiid-
!as Company. Chicago. the 3.loo ton
Lake Crescent
fws Wooden Vessels Launched.
Two wooden ships totalling 1900 tons
vent OF the ways in the week ended TO-
tay-the composite ship Calala, 1000
'ors. and the Dumaru. Of $500 tons,
Both were contract ships. All told.
sven wooden ships totalling $4,000 tons
nave heen launched to date this month
Exhaustive tests Of the concrete ship
Faith under actual seagoing conditions
ave been ordered by Chief Engineer
r. j. Wig OF the department OF concrete
sh!p construction. A committee OF ex-
perts will leave for California this week
% accompany the Faith on her trial trip
ne committee consists Of F. r. McMil-
isn and II S. Loef'ier. engineers. and L.
Brush. naval architect.
self-recording instruments Of new de.
dgn will be used to determine the ma
ture and effect Of strain on the steel re.
0forcemen,s and the results OF wave
.Nssure, The tests are expected to
provide ample data necessary for ex'
.edittng designs now under preparation
'of the Governments concrete tankers,
W, L. COmyn, president OF the Sar
Francisco Shipbuilding Company. builder
=" the Faith, Is in Washington for con-
,erence with oflicials Of the Shipping
Board