The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1918-04-04
SHIP SITUATION IS
NOT D|SCOURAGING
But Ii Will Be Fifteen Months
Before Production Will
Equal Loss.
GREATER WAR ON U-BOATS
Well Into 1919 Before the Creation of
Merchant Shipping Equals
Destruction.

Washington, March 2O.-"Here Is
the situation. Germany knows it and
we may as well understand it. If we
produce as we have planned, if the
submarine destruction continues its
present rate, if there is neither in
creased nor decreased submarine eff
fectiveness, then it will be fifteen
months-well into 1919-before the
creation of merchant shipping equals
destruction"
The above represent the conclu-'
sions Senator Harding has drawn
from the weeks and weeks Of inyestt-
cation the commerce committee Of
the Senate has made into the ship
ping problem. AS author of the reso-
luton calling for the shipping probe
to get more energy into the program
and find out the exact status Of the
world shipping situation, the senator,
has sat through the days of testimony
when everyone connected directly or
indirectly with the shipping problem,
from Chairman Hurley down, have
been Quizzed. He has also visited
some OF the larger eastern shipyards
to get a personal view Of the stu
alton.
Situation Not Discouraaing.
In spite of the astounding conclu-
sion drawn from the situation, we
must not be discouraged over the
situation. In spite of the blunders
and delays, the American shipbuild-
ing program is developing as encour-
agingly as could be expected, consid-
ering it had practically to be started
from the ground up as the navy was
using most of the established ship
yards. 1t is estimated from all the
testimony that has been produced be
fore the committee, this years pro-
duction will be approximately 3 mill
lion tons, possibly little more, in
stead of the million tons that was
so glibly talked about last summer
and even last winter. At that, he
thinks the United States twill have
wrought wonders in spite of disap-
pointments." With one ship a day
being launched now and two a day
to take the water from June on, it is
believed the situation will get con-
tinuously better as far as new con-
struction is concerned. Only the stu
alton demands the United States
should always put first stress on
ships, even above building the army,
that the figures on new construction
may be increased above the million
mark for the year
Hope in War Against U-Boats.
In estimating it will be fifteen
months before new construction viii
equal the present rate Of sinkings,
Senator Harding frankly states he
does not take into account the posi-
bility Of the navy, by its increased
plumber of destroyers and new meth
DDS of fighting the submarine, de-
creasing the effectiveness of the u
boats That is the one big hope of
| the situation. If the sinkings were
cut down materially the new line of
construction would rise much more
rapidly and could pass the sinkings
months and months sooner But while
| that is the hope, it is something that
can't be promised and more ship
building is the only answer. The es
innate is based On the situation as il
| is to date.
The committee, as a result Of its
hearings, has approved a plan for two
more fabricated ship yards, each tC
have ten ways so ten large steel S; fps
can be built at one time. To settle
the mooted question of whether gov
eminent construction under direct
government supervision, or letting OF
contracts to private concerns on g
cost plus basis is the cheapest and
| quickest in getting results, one OF the
new fabricating ship yards will be
operated by the navy direct; the 9th
er by private contract The two new
ship yards will he begun shortly.