Evening journal., 1918-07-05

Speed IN SH|PYARDS
PLEASES PRESIDENT
This is Redfisld's Message
to P. & ]. Co. at Aurora
Launching
PERSHlNG ALSO
SENDS GREETINGS

William C. Redfeld. Secretary OF Com
merce, spoke twice here yesterday, first
at the launching OF the 3O0-foot steel
cargo carrier Aurora, at the yards OF
the Pusey & Jones Company, which was
named by Miss Agnes Kirby, Of Aurora,
ILL.,, and again TO the foreign born fol-
lowing their patriotic pageant.
Addressing the shipyard workers. the
Secretary told them the President Is
carrying a great load, but that he is be-
ing helped carry II by the patriotic en-
deavors OF Americas shipyard me
chanics.
The Aurora, launched twenty days
ahead Of her schedule. is 300 feet long,
"a feet beam and 10 feet deep. As soon
as the vessel had been made fast after
taking the water the big crane OF the
plant swung another plate into place on
the same ways and work was begun on
a new ship.
Miss Kirby was a happy girl. She
swung with steady hand a bottle OF
champagne againstthe sieel-ribbed Au-
rora as IL began its maiden plunge. But
she would not have been so happy and
her hand might have trembled II she
had known how narrow was her es-
cape from a purposeless journey all the
way from her home city nearly 1000
miles away.
For, is she had known it, the ship
was not TO have been christened Au-
rora at ALL There was a mlx-up in
names. Aurora was chosen originally,
but several days ago the Shipping
Board notified a representative Of the
Emergency Fleet Corporation at Pusey
& Jones, that the ship would be chris
tened Piave, after the river Of that name
In Italy, where the Italian forces re-
Gently won a glorious victory.
But by this time a delegation from
Aurora. including Miss Kirby. was al
ready on its way TO Wilmington to at
tend the launching II the ship was
20 be christened Piave they certainly
would not want anything TO do with
it. Finally a message giving the facts
was sent hack TO the shipping Board
Just in time GANG the reply to rein
state Aurora as the ships name.
TWO thousand relatives and friends OF
Wilmington ship workers and a score
OF prominent Delawareans cheered
nightly as the Aurora. freed from its
rigging. dipped its stern in the waters
Of the Christiana.
The ship was not launched without
difficulty. The river opposite the plant
OF Pusey & Jones is only a trifle more
than 3i2 feet wide, the length OF the
Aurora. So that the ship would not
strike It's sternposts against the oppo-
site river banks, special steel boxes NIL
ed with pig iron were attached 10 each
side OF the vessel to check its momen-
tunn. Boss Rigger Spllleth looked after
thIs checking device. while Boss Car
penter Laird kept his eye on the
launching details under the general di-
fection OF Marine Superintendent Over
man and Nisse Ksrfve, marine engi-
neer.
William C. Redfeld. Secretary OF
Commerce, made a brief address fol-
lowing the launching. lie told the ship
workers TO exert every ounce OF en-
ergy in their bodies 10 defeat Car
many and crush those who rejoice
when a hospital ship Is sunk.
when you come back tomorrow 10
work" he said 10 the men. "thipk OF
the devastated homes Of France, Bel
gium and Italy and then resolve TO
make ships and more ships. Let's never
stop until we crush those who have put
decency TO shame and made the world
a slaughterhouse."
Miss Kirby, who chrlstened the Au-
rora. has a brother, Francis Kirby, who
was the first young man from her home
town 10 be wounded in France, while a
cousin Of the girl. John 7. Kirby. was
the first Aurora boy 10 be killed.
Mayor James Z. Harley, OF Aurora
was not at the launching. lie Is con-
Quoting centennial celebration In
Kane county, Ill. in his stead he sent
John NJ. PETERS. secretary Of the Au-
rora Commercial Club. and secretary at
one time TO A. J. Hopkins. Of Illinois,
when NJ. Hopkins was a United States
Senator. Mr.. PETERS was accompanied