Evening journal., 1918-05-24
new SHIP GARIBALDI
IS 'FLOATED' TODAY
Italian workmen Have I'm.
portsnt fsrt in Ceremonies
al Harlan Plast
MISS ROSE DEL COLO
ACTS AS SPONSOR

All nstlonalitles represented among
tho workmen at the Harlan plant OF
the Bethlehem shipbuildins Corpora
tlon at noon today, Joined with their
fellow wOrkmen Of Italian birth. in the
celebration Of the third anniversary OF
ltaly's entrance into the war By the
floating Of the latest ship at the Hsr-
Ian plant. the "GaribSldi"
This vessel. which has been sixty
nine days in the building. will be com
pleted. according TO a statement made
by the Harlan management, IN ninety
days from the date OF the laying Of the
keel Il was built in a drydock and the
floating OF the ship took the place Of
the formal launching from the ways
but lacked the thrills that usually at
tend the launching OF a vessel The
gates shutting out the water were
raised and the water WAS allowed 20 mn
the drydock When the ship foated
was the moment taken for the chris
tening
Just as the whistle OF the Harlan
plant sounded for the noon hour. the
Harlan band men. in their working
clothes. playing The star Spangled
Banner" with q handsome silk Ameri-
can Tag carried In the van reached the
drydock About the christening stand
were the Stars and Stripes and the col
ors Of Italy.
General Manager J. b. Weaver ad-
dressed the 1000 workmen who assem-
bled about the dock, He told OF his
impressions while on trips to and
through Italy. Very briefly, ne related
the important events In the life OF Carl
baldl, and said that 10 Italians he rep
resented as closely as possible, what
the father OF our country. George
Washington, does to Americans.
Mr.. Weaver announced that the
American workmen might learn some
thing from their italian brothers He
said the latter quit work at noon and
at night less earlier than some OF their
American brothers. thus adding In the
whole 10 the capacity OF the plant. He
said that the government had asked ell
shipyards 10 try and hustle ships 10
completion, so that II possible. there
might be a launching on July a. Mr.
Weaver said that he had hardly thought
this possible, but that at the request
OF several leaders among the men, an
effort viii be made 10 have a boat, tho
keel Of which was laid a few days ago.
ready for launching on the birthday OF
Americas liberty.
There was a general response to the
appeal OF the manager and with an alb
sence OF stormy weather stopping the
work. the goal may be accomplished.
Mr.. Weaver also announced that the
selection OF a sponsor for the boat had
been left 10 the italian workmen OF
the plant. They had a difficult time Sc
Letting the prettiest girl Of italian par
entage in Wilmington, for the honor.
but he believed they had made a wisu
choice in Miss Rose Del Colo. Of No.
1928 Lancaster avenue.
The Italian national anthem vas play
ed by the band and rendered so etfec-
lively and so closely 10 the time and
rythm OF the way in which II is play
ed in Italy or by native bandsmen that
many OF the Italian workmen In the
crowd danced 10 il.
Miss Del Colo, handsomely sttired
and carrying a beautiful bouquet OF
roses. stepped forward on the cnristen-
ing platform and amid the cheers OF the
crowd dashed a bottle OF champagne
against the steel hull OF the Garibsldi
with force enough to shatter the bottle
into hundreds Of fragments. The wine
toamed and splashed those close by the
Gsribaldi "floated," and the christening
was over.
The boat. which is a sister ship to the
Riran launched three weeks agO was
originally contracted for by the United
Fruit Company, but subsequently requi-
stioned by the Emergency Fleet Cor
poration. II is OF $500 tons burden and
will be used for carrying supplies and
food 10 American soldiers and the Al
lies abroad. The dimensions follow =
Length over all. 322 feet; beam, nodded,
IS feet; depth, 2i feet.
Miss Del Colo, the sponsor has .wo
brothers working at the plant.