The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-07-25
CAME THICK AND FAST

with responsibility for the expenditures of the funds, supplied by Congress, promptly blocked the generals plans.
 CAME THICK AND FAST
 Difficulties then developed thick and fast and another letter went from the White House to General Goethals. It called the general to account for an- nouncing his programme without first consulting the board, and made clear that he was not in supreme charge of the building programme and must not pro- ceed without the approval of the shipping board.
 In reply the general wrote a letter made public today offering to resign and declaring he had been given to under stand previously by the President, the shipping board and all others concerned that he was to have absolute authority.
 The Geothals programme, which in cludes communicating all private ship ping under construction and the build ing of two government owned shipyards for putting together fabricated steel ships, undoubtedly will be adopted almost as it stands, Chairman Denman already has forced changes which will reduce the cost of ships to be fabricated and the state department supports his posi- tion that the United States should requisition British ships building in American yards
 BRENT IN CHARGE
 MT Denman's resignation leaves Vice Chairman Brent as temporary chairman and there will be no interruption to the boards work Until their nominations have been confirmed, Mir Hurley and Mir. Colby will sit with the board as members without power to vote Mean time Rear Admiral Capps will take im- mediate charge of building. He is a naval constructor of wide experience and at present is head of the naval compen- sation board which passes on the cost Of warships built by contractors on the cost plus percentage basis MT. Hurley is a manufacturer of pneumatic machin- cry and as chairman of the trade com mission gave most of his time to the es- tablishment of better relations between the government and business. Tonight he authorized this statement:
 "I appreciate the importance of the task with which the President has intrusted me We must build ships. not talk about them American lab bor the most skillful and intelligent in the world. can turn out the ships in record breaking time and we are going to buckle down and get busy"
 In announcing accordance of the res- ienation of General Goethals and the re- quest that MT, Denman resign, the White House made public tonight the Presidents
 
 LETTER TO DENMAN
 The Pres.aenL letter to MT. Denman follows:
 T hope and believe that I am inter preting your best Judgment as we'll as my own when I say that your duty con- corning the debate and misunderstood ings that have arisen in connection with the shipbuilding programme ought to be settled without regard to our personal preferences or our personal feelings al- together and with the single purpose of doing what will be best to serve the pub lie interest.
 No decision we can now arrive at could eliminate the elements of contro- versy that have crept into almost every question connected with the programme, and l am convinced that the only wise course is to begin a-fresh--not upon the programme, for that is already in large part in process of eXecution-but upon the further execution of 1t.
 T have found both you and General Goethals ready to serve the public at personal sacrifice. Realizing that the only manner in which the way can be com pletely cleared for harmonious and effec- tive action is to carry our shipbuilding plans forward from this point through new agencies. General Goethals has put his resignation in my hands and I have accepted 1t in the same spirit in which it was tendered-not as deciding between two men whom I respect and admire. but in order to make inviduous decisions unnecessary and let the work be devel- oped without further discussion of what is past
 I am taking the liberty of writing to tell you this in the confidence that you will be glad to take the same disinterest-