Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-05-24
j. 5. 5. GAR|BALD
FLOATED TODAY AT
HARLAN SH|PYARD
Event Made Notable by Demon
stration III Honor of
Italy
DISPLAY WAS PATRIOTIC

All nationahties represented among
the workmen u, the Har A. plant of the
Bethlehem ShiplunIdiug corporation, AZ
noon today joined with thir fellow
Workmen of Italian birth in the celehrH
ton ot Garlhalil Day IN the floating
ii the latest ship III the Harlan plant. the
Garibaidl
Tins vessel. that has heen SO days II
the building, Viii he completed. according
to a statement made hy the Harlan
management, in 90 days from the date
ot the laying Of the keel
The floating Of ship when built
iii dry dock. which answers 10 the launch
ing 81 vessel that slides down ways, i
lacking in the thrills that usually attend
the launching OF $ vessel The gates
shutting out the water are raised and the
water allowed 70 FIJI the drydocks, or
basin, and when the ship floats Is the
moment taken for the christening That
time with the Garibaldi was arranged
for shortly after II o'clock noon today
just as the whistle of the Harlan plant
sounded for the noon hour, the Harlan
Band, IN their working clothes, playing
The Star-Spangled Banner with a
handsome silk American flag carried III
the van reached the drydock. About the
"
Stars and Stripes and the cotors of Italy
General Manager J. B. Weaver ad-
dressed the 4 600 wOrkmen who had been
able 10 leave their tasks and assemble
about the dock He told of his impress
slons while on the trips 10 and through
Italy that he has made Very briefly he
related the important events In the life
Of (TarlbaidI. and said that 10 Italians he
represented as closely as possible what
the father OF our country, George " ash
lngtOn, does to Americans; how II was
through GaribAldis efforts that Italy
was finally united ana OF the tribute paid
his name by all subjects Of Emmanuel
Mr.. " eAyer announced that the AInerl-
can Workmen might learn something from
their Italian brothers, that the latter quit
work at noon less early and 81 night than
some Of their American brothers. thus
adding in the whole 10 the capacity Of the
plant He said that the government had
asked all shlpyards to try 10 hustle 70
completion ships and that If possible
there might be launching on July
MIR Weaver SAID ne had hardly thought
this possible, but that 81 the request OF
several leaders among the men, boat, the
keel OF which was LAID q few days ago,
might, with the concerted effort Of all
the men. be ready for launching on the
birthday OF America { liberty
There was general response TO the
appeal of the manager and with al all
sence of stormy weather stopping the
work the goal may be accomplished
ITALIAN GIRL AS SPONSOR
Mr. Weaver also announced that the
selection of a sponsor for the new boat
foated TODAY had been left 10 the Italian
workInen of the plant that they had had
difficult time selecting the pretueot glrl
Of Italian parentage IN Wilmington Tor the
honor. but that he believed they had made
wise choice in Miss Rose Del Colo
u 1928 Lancaster avenue.
The Italian national anthem was played
~ the band and rendered 50 effectively
and 50 closely 70 the time and rhythm OF
the way III which it Is played II Italy or
by native bandsmeD, that many ot the
italian workmen in the crowd ilgged and
danced to il
Miss Rose Del Colo Of l22o Lancaster
avenue, handsomely attlIed and carrying
: beautiful bouquet Of roses stepped Tor
ward Oh the christening platform and
amid the cheers of the crowd dashed the
bottle Of champagne against the steel
hull ol tie GaribAld. with force enough TO .
sLatteT the bottle into hundreds Of frag-
ments ! he choice hquor loaned ana
splashed those close by the Garibaldi
'foated and the christening was over. 1
The boat. which is . sister ship TO the /
bran Launched three weeks ago, was
originally contracted for by the United f.
Fruit Company, but subsequently, requi-
sitloned by the Emergency Fleet Corpora
tion It i Of 4 500 tons burden and will |
be used for carrying supplies and food I
To American soldiers and the Allies I
abroad The dimensions follow Length /
over all, 322 feet; beam nodded, 4S feet; |
depth, "a feet The vessel, built according /
to Lloyd's specifications for sea-going /
craft, has double bottom, is steel +.
throughout, schooner rgged, has steam
stearlng gear lighted with electricity,
has complete reirgerating plant, is fitted !
with triple expansion engines and has
two cylindrical return tube boilers
Miss Del Colo the sponsor, has two
brothers working IT the Harlan plant