The Washington herald., 1918-07-14
TO BUILD
12STEEL SHIPS
QUICK FOR U. S.
Hurley Lets Contract to
Government Works
at Shanghai.

Chairman Edward N. Hurley, Of the
Shipping Board. yesterday let con-
tract for the construction of 10000
tons Of steel ships in the Chinese
government yards at Shanghai
Washington ofacials regard this
move by the chairman Of the Shipping
Board as a good business and diplo-
matte stroke, and an important factor
in cementing and utilizing the
strength that Is really arrayed against
Prussian sdtocracy.
China. with her teeming millions.
has for many years found her best
friend in the United States. and is an
ally e this nation and the Others
at waf with Germany. Thus far only
her moral support has been given to
the allies, but she has been anxious
TO play a useful part in the war and
especially on behalf of the United
States.
Plant Long Established.
Chairman Hurley. in his worldwide
census of shipbuilding facilities which
could be turned to account, found a
great modern shipbuilding plant at
Shanghai, owned and operated by the
Chinese government, but near to idle
ness because the war had practically
cut China on from supplies OF iron
and steel
The plant is known as the Kiang-
nan Dock and Engineering Works.
and includes the senior Chinese gov
ernment naval dock. The entire
works are owned by the Chinese
government. and are under the ex-
elusive control Of the Chinese
board OF navy. They were estab-
lished in 1868. and in 1904 . for
eign technical stan of shipbuilders,
most of them from Scotland and
under the direction of r. B. Msu-
chan. a master shipbuilder, took
over the works and have been op-
Grating them ever since for the Chi
nese government.
Modern Equipment.
There are twelve launching ways
in the yards, each one capable of
turning out large steel ships of the
most modern type, and great plants
and shops fully equipped with
modern machinery, and capable Of
producing powerful marine engines,
and all ship accessories The works
have turned out more than 800
ships, all completed in the one plant
There is a great dry dock capable
of docking ships up to 544 feet in
length.
Chairman Hurley was anxious to
keep this plant in operation at full
strength for the benefit Of the al
lies. The first work of the war
given to the plant was the reha-
Utilization of the German and Aus
trian vessels interned in China
These were made seaworthy and
turned over to the United States.
England. France and Italy as part
of China's contribution to the war.
China Eager to Help.
Before this work was completed
Chairman Hurley had negotiations
under way by which ships could be
built at Shanghai for the United
States. He met a most hearty re-
sponse from officials on behalf of
the Chinese government. They were
anxious to place rail- the facilities
and resources of China controlled
by the government at the DISPOSE
tion of the United States.
Mr.. Mauchan came to Washington,
and yesterday contracts were signed
by which, as a first order, twelve
modern steel vessels of the cargo
type will be built on account OF the
Shipping Board. The program for
construction of vessels in China as
now framed calls for the expendi-
ture of about s3o.ooO.o 900.
In return for this friendly act on
the part Of the United States, put
ting China in practically the same
relationship to the United States as
Japan in the matter of shipbuilding.
the Chinese offlcials. through Mr.,
Mauchan, have promised to show
their desire to aid by setting out to
break all world records in rapid
ship construction.
Delivery I'm Six Months
Delivery of the first vessels will
be made in about six months and
would be made much sooner but for
the unavoidable delay in furnishing
steel and iron from this country. AZ
soon as the material is on hand In
quantity the shipbuiiders will put
thousands of men to work and rush
the work night and day until they
are completed.
Chevron for the Escaped.
London. July 13-A special chevror
has heen stfroested To be worn b.