Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-02-01
US. MUST HURRY
CONSTRUCTION OF
HIPS,SAYSCOLBY
Members of Houses Staff De-
cfareS U-Boat Offensive
q Grave Menance


bridge Colby of New York who went
to Paris with Colonel House to learn
as commissioner for the United
States Shipping Board everythine
that the Allied Government could
tell him about submarines and ships
hit an audience of shipbuilders NJ
the Academy of Music last night
squarely between the eyes with some
of these facts.
He said that the submaNne off
ensive against allied shipping would
wipe America from the map if the
projected output of tonnage for 191 S
were not doubled and maybe trebled.
He said it as a member of the War
Administration.
On information gained officially
from allied generals. statesmen and
shipping men Mr. Colby based the
assertion that the United States and
the cause of the allies are in such
danger that unessential industries
should be abandoned and their
workmen sent to shipyards. Dec
laring that there are 100000 chauf-
feurs in New York and from 5000
TO 10000 in Pennsylvania who
could be used as skilled mechanics
in shipyards, he said that automo-
biles should be put aside for the dur
alton of the war. He said that it is
imperilling the cause of the coun-
try to erect skyscrapers, tunnels and
bridges when the workmen and steel
are needed for ships.
Foolish and Criminal
This country is in such danger
that it is foolish and criminal to
waste money on amusements, he
said. The situation is so grave
that partisan criticism and local
squabbling are painful and infinite
ly foolish on the face of it,"
Acknowledging that in stating
these facts their purport would be
little realized by Americans who
suffer from the disease of 5000
miles" the Commissioner re-empha-
sized the Importance of rushing to
meet the foe before the catastrophe
of German triumph is upon the
Sworld.
He did not hesitate to reveal that
even now allied military men are
considering seriously the problem of
whether Germany can break
Through" although stating that none
of the allies admit the probability.
The American Army alone which
can by means of ships which the
submarines are sinking faster than
they are being built" can guarantee
that the Germans should not break
through, Mr.. Colby said.
Double Maybe Treble
We've got TO double our pro-
gram and maybe treble it," Mr..
Colby told the shipbuilders. We
have got to build faster than S,000,-
600 tons dead weight per annum to
keep pace with the submarine. We
have got to overhaul it and then re-
place its ravages or we're gone.
I'VE should be making new rec
ords each week, and ways are idle
to-day because there are not men
enough to man them" he said, maxi
ing the appeal for more labor. which
was the purpose of his talk and of
the meeting which was arranged by
the War Shipping Committee of the
Chamber of Commerce.
"A rivet driven into a ship plate
to-day is as good as a bullet lodged
in an enemy. All we've got to do
to win the war is to put those ships
on the ocean. If we don't, we've got
10 take Germany on ourselves in two
CT three years. We've got to stoD
Wasting our money on amusements.
The country is in danger, l tell YOU
it's problematical whether we will
win. We're at war. It's, a fact.
Act accordingly.
There's no way to keep America
bIt tilt map tAttpI DN SHIPS. lneTG- s
no way to justify our pretensions to
be nation except with ships. No
skyscraper should go up, no tunnel
should be built, or any bridge. Moth
ing should be built but ships. Take
the chauffeurs off your automobiles
who are trained mechanics; put up
your automobiles. Uncle Sam needs
these men; the United States is wait
ng for them. They are needed to
build ships.
We've got to go to war. my
friends" Mr.. Colby said. decisiveiy.
We haven't gone yet, by long
shot. We've got to go down to the
Valley of sweat and blood and serve
: we're going to win this war.
Don't think you can sit back
II comfort with your little pre-oc-
rupation, and think that by reading
Your newspapers and making sapi-
ent criticisms at your club you are
going to win the war;" he said, as
he audience. largely composed of
brawny riveters, Caulkers and other
Bhipbuilders with their executives
swept the building with applause"
Don't think you can win the war
by attending patriotic banquets and
standing up when the band plays
ieorge Cohan's little tune. When I
returned from Europe and found the
newspapers featuring the struttings
and Vauntings of little men, in their
bits of neighborhoods, about little
bits of questions, it seemed 80 triY-
al, so wrong. Our hearts and life
hre not in tune with the world at
his time.
"Must Shut Down
Il don't care whether the Fuel
administration was right or wrong
We've got to face many more things
pr that sort. Candy factories, man
lfacturers of athletic goods, potter
es have got to stop, shut down and
stop absorbing the labor which
should go into ships"
After saying that only the solidar-
ty of America could accomplish the
ask presented by the fact that es-
imates based on 1917 showed that
n 1918 submarine warfare would de-
Btroy more ships than were included
n the projected shipbuilding pro-
grams of the United States and
Great Britain, Mr.. Colby protested
gainst the partisan criticism which
has swept the capital.
Il am not at liberty to disclose to
Fou the full significance OF the CUB
marine statistics" he said, gravely
Though after his talk he reaffirm-
d this sentiment in CONNECTION with
tances the United States will build
more ships this year than ever have
peen built by any nation In the his
ory of the world.
Welded by Devils Crew.
Our Allies rely upon US to over
ONE submarine ruthlessness. which
= in truth Garpn cb rnagf mann