Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-08-05
LAUNCHING OPENS EPOCH
IS ASSERTION OF HURLEY
Shipping Board Chairman Points Out the Significance OF the
Quistconck in Making of Ne,O
america

ANOTHER milestone in Americas
"A progress In the war against Ger
many. the launching of the Qustconck
has a doutle Significance, f. n. Hurley.
chairman OF the United states shipping
board, declared in an interview after the
launching this afternoon.
1t is an epoch in American history,
he said ana Is significant because It
marks the beginning of quantity pro-
duction of ships, which before the war
was thought impossible and because it
clearly demonstrates the determination
of the President 10 build barrier
against the aggressions of militarism
Prasing the shipworkers who built the
Quistconck as makers OF New Amer
ica," Mr.. Hurley declared It was through
their efforts that the large American
army is now driving the German army
back from Paris.
All of us have been honored today by
the presence of the Commander-in-Ch
of the army and navy at the first
launching from the ways constructed at
Hog Island and by the presence Of the
lTSt l.uuy O1 tTe LdTu us sIoilSoi III
the ship" said Mr.. Hurley.
1T was no mere incident in a nations
shipbuilding program that brought the
President and Mrs. Wilson to the scene
of this achievement. II was the begin
ming of an epoch In the nations history.
This launching marks another mile
stone in Americas progress in the war
against the German Government. 1t
marks the beginning of quantity produce
tion Of ships in all the yards of the
United States.
Meaning Of Quantity Production"
Since this war began you have heard
a great deal about quantity produc-
ton" II means the production OF any
commodity II. such large quantities that
the cost of production continually de-
creascs as the quantity increases.
America achieved front rank in guam
tity production of automobiles before
the war. but quantity production of ships
was neve" undertaken by any nation
because 1t was believed to be imprac-
ttcable.
"It is doubtful whether any nation ever
would have undertaken shipbuiiding
program on such a large scale II Ger
many had not plunged the world into
war. We are in 1t now. and we are go.
more tonnage today than the submarines
are sinking and from this time forward
our great task will be to replace the
tonnage that was lost In the days when
We were far behind in the nerve-rack-
ing race with the sharks Of the sea.
1T was general Joffre. who. at the
Marine, said They shall not pass" but
the real turning point in this world
war was marked when President Wilson
proclaimed that war would follow ruth
less submarine attacks upon our ship
ping. The German Government fiaunted
this nation because 1t believed we could
not build ships in sufficient quantities to
carry large American army into
France because II believed we were a
pleasure loving. commercial nation
thinking only OF our own prosperity. In
the days when the war clouds were
gathering there was considerable specu.
! lation as to the extent to which this
country could participate. There was a
pretty general thought that the best we
could do, because of our distance from