Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-03-27

IL
cas- EFFORT to meet German sub
marine war, whose full menai.e
mas just been revealed in British Ad-
miralty figures on sinkings of shins
was outlined here tonight nv chair
man Hurley, OF the Shipping Board
IN a frank statement setting forth the
shipbuilding situation in the United
States.
BEFORE the National Marine League.
Mr.. Hurley disclosed that despite de-
lays, the country soon will have $50
steel and wooden ways turning out
SHIPS and that the government S
mammoth steel shipbulding program
OF eight million tons on March l was
2e per cent. on its way to completion.
This does not mean that % per cent.
are in the water, but that construc-
ton as whole had advanced that
far. Eight per cent. Of the vessels ac-
tually have been put into service, MI
Hurley said.
The three government fabrica ting
yards near Philadelphia. when in full
operation, will be able to produce, Nj.
Hurley said, more ships in year
than all the yards of England, hereto
fore the greatest shipbuilding country
in the world.
The high point in the curve of pro-
duction has been delayed, Mr.. HUI
ley pointed out. by number Of
causes. Gradually. these are being
overcome. he declared. and before
manv months, the peak will have been
reached.
When the high point Of the curve
finally has been reached and the mag
nitude of Americas shipbuilding pro
gram is realized" he said. lit will be
Il continuous performance of produc-
,i"n and launching"
Unless we get out men to the bat
lie front. we will not win the war,
and therefore it all comes back to
"tips," said Mr.. Hurley. Upon the
Shipping Board has devolvcd the re-
sp"nsibility Of supplying this need
traordinary conditions that ever OK
listed. a! time when every other i'll
dustry is being taxed to its utmost
capacity in the matter Of materials
and labor to provide war necessities.
The handicaps have been many.
We were not a maritime nation. With
the exception of a few widely scat
tered yards, merchant marine con-
struction had almost become a los.
art with us. Then came this sudden
call at a moment when the Navy WAS
undergoing the greatest expansion IN
its history--when most. If not all. Of
the established yards were feverishly
engaged in rush construction ~
drea dnaughtS. deStroyerS, submarines,
fuel ships, tenders and other auxii-
iary craft and when munition MAX
srs were absorbing that part of skilled
labor which had not been called 10
government navy yards or private
shipbuilding plants. SO it was a cas-
Of not only working from the ground
up. but of first securing the eround
upon which to make start. some CT
il marsh land which had to be filled
in before launching ways could hc
laid Therefore. we who are engaged
in the work appreciate the magnitude
of the task. ] doubt if the magnitude
OF the task is generally appreciated
am not here. to .emphas size that mag
pitude. | ON here TO tell you OF the
situation as ii is.
There were 81 steel shipyards Ii
America at the time of our entrance
into the war. We have located 81 ad-
di,ional steel and wood yards Will" Is
other wards have been expanded. we
are building III the new and expanded
steel wards 235 new steel ShipWayS, ~
2G more than at present exist iii al
the shipyards of England. If we had
been content with doing the job in 4
small way, we might have built a re-"
new wards and added little To- out
cepacity A few ships might nave
been finished more quickly; but il Was
the spirit and will of America 10 IL
the lob in big way and the JudH
ment of the country will be vindicate''
by the results when all these new
wavs are completed and are turning
out ships. Many Of these ways have
actually been finished. The new ~
dus,rv we have created Will make
America the greatest maritime ma
ton in the history Of the world.
1T took Germany 40 years to build
up her mighty military machine IN
less than eight months we have bum
uu a ship5uilding machine, which
when il gets into full swing. Will de-
feat the military machine of Ger
many.
The total amount Of our steel con
struc,ion program on March | was -
EOS, 7oS lightweight tons. This is made
up Of $50, eco lightweight tons unoer
contract with the Emergency Fleet
Corporation and 3.045, deadweisnt
tons of reuuisition vessels.
OF this total steel construction, =
12l.5Ss lightweight tons, or approx
mately Is per cent. has been com
Melted. That means that in addlt'oh
to the building Of our big new yards
we have also been building ships
That il. the program for steel sh'ps
has advanced % per cent. 1o"aru
cornplet;on. OF the amount of steer
shius under contract and under re-
oris;tiCo. 65H, 456 lightweight tons, or
approximately per cent. were actu-
allv completed and in service on
March | Of this year. nearly a moh'h
ago This amount Of floating tonnage
exceeds our total output in 1916, IT.
Guiding steel. wooden and sailing NeS-
sells. but approximately 80 per cent
"Our program for building "oourn
sh;ns has been beset with many dt-
,.; .,d bapdjranS which cot u