The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1918-02-12

The Council OF Natlonal De-
fense asks for 250,O00 shipyard vol
unteers. Instructions have been sent
to the County Chairmen of Councils
in all the States of whom there are
$500. Enrollments will be reported
as fast as they can be obtained. Vol
unteers will be expected to hold
themselves in readiness for calls to
the shipyards, but they will not be
expected to leave their present en-
ployment until they are individually
needed. Unskilled laborers can be
used, but the pressing demand is for
asbestos workers, acetylene work
ers, blacksmiths, boilermakers, ship
pers and calkers, coppersmiths, cleo
tricians, loftmen, machinists, paint
ers, plumbers, ship carpenters, ship
filters, sheet metal workers, and
structural iron workers.
"Men who join the United States
Shipyard Volunteers with proof of
their usefulness and of their will
ingness to report at the yards when
wanted will be exempt from military
service. "When you get back to
your States and start this work, y
Assistant Secretary Post of the De-
partment of Labor said to the State
Directors of the Pubic Service Re-
serve who will have charge of the
enrollments, "tell your people that
on these ships depend this war, and
on the full, efficient work of the
men in the yards depend the ships"
The urgent need could not be stated
in fewer and better words.
cit should be added that in the un-
essential industries there are many
thousands of men for whom uses
could be found in the shipyards, al
though they have never done a days
work on a ship or on any material
that enters into the construction OF
one. Moreover, there are many
and trades that can
spare workers. The place for them
is a shipyard. Patriotic employers
should be glad to encourage men
whom they do not really need TO
ioin the United States Shipyard
Volunteers"
The foregoing, taken from The
New York Times, one of the great
EST papers of the country, empha-
sizes the call which is coming today
@ the skilled men of the country
Men everywhere who are capable OF
.oing the work are needed IN the
;hip-building program. Before our
nen can win the war in France, they
INST first be safely transported 10
france. and there must be then no
want of transportation in order that
hev may be properly armed pro-
,erly equipped, and properly sus-
aimed.
The announcement in another
column that a successful device has
,een constructed whereby transport
;hips cannot be sunk by torpedoes'
,ut emphasizes the need of the Navy
,or ship-builders at his time Inc
sooner skilled laborerrs can DC
brought together to build shlpS'
make them seaworthy, make them
,nsinkable, build torpedo boats
and every other device for the safe
" of the men who are to go oVer-'
seas and do the lighting, the sooiiei
The war will end, the less the amount
IF blood which must be she'd, the
less the expense to the country, and
the hardships which must come to
the people at home.
A nationwide call is now extend
cd to the men who can be of service
in this ship-buiding program. VIII
they respond to the call of the c0un,
trv as their forefathers responded
after the battle of Lexington and
after the siege of Fort Sumter?
DATES FOR MAKING