Arizona republican., 1919-01-03
ONLY FOUR SHIPS BEEN DELIVERED BY THREE YARDS
Three From Hog Island One Newark -Investiga-
 tion Discloses Deplorable Delay In Essential De- partment - Piez Lays Blame To Yard Construc- tion And Lack Of Material
Republican A. P. Leased Wirel

Republican A. P. Leased WHeI
 WASHINGTON, Jan. 2.-Only four ships have been delivered by the three great government fabricated shipbuild- ing plants, Charles Piez, director gen. eral of the Emergency Fleet corpora ton, said today, in testifying before the senate commerce committee. Diff ficulty in constructing the yards and in Obtaining material were largely re- sponsible for the delays, the witness said.
 Three of the ships have come from the Hog Island yard, MT. Piez testi- fled, and the fourth from the Subma- rine Boat Corporation plant at Port Newark, N. J., which should have de- HVered 124 vessels by last December '. The Merchants Shipbuilding corpora ton, at Bristol Pa, has not yet de- livered a ship, he said, although under its contract "A should have been com ple-ed by December z. The Hog Island yard delivered it's third ship today, and has launched F others, the committee was told. Before resuming it's inquiry today, the committee adopted a resolu- tion by Senator Nelson of Minnesota, extending it's investigation to include a survey of the progress of all govern ment cerchant shipbuilding.
 Investigation Is Complete
 Under the resolution the shipping board and the Emergency Fleet corpo- ration would. be required to furnish a statement showing the number of ship yards where ships for the government are being, or are to be built, or con- tracted for, together with the capacity of the yards and the amounts contrib uted by the government for their con- f-T1nf fnT1 md f11n ahar- ,Nf ships each has completed or launched. The committee also asked for the ex- penditures made from all money ap- propriated by congress for ships, and whether any of the vessels completed for the fleet-~corporation have been used in carrying men or munitions to , or from Europe
 Questioned today about the Hog Island yard, MT. Piez told the commit tee that because of a change in the management of the American Interna- tioIlal Shipbuilding corporation, con- tractors on the Hog Island project, the fleet corporation had decided that it would be unwise for the government to take over management of the yard at this time. Under the new arrange ment, Matt Brush. formerly a vice president of the American Interna- tional corporation. heads the American International Shipbuilding corporation, and other changes in the executive of ficers have been made.
 Big Plant Reserve Asset
 Mir. Piez said he believed the gov ernment, eventually, should exercise it's option on the Hog Island site and take over management of the plant.
 The Hog Island yard, the witness de- clared, has been the mecca for repre- senratiyes of all nations visiting the United States, and generally they have expressed admiration for it. He said the plant eventually would become a big producer.
 T feel most distinctly that it was a great asset, to have the Hog Island yard in reserve, just as it is a great asset to have a large army in reserve" !" said Mir. Piez Tt has been a very great moral factor in our successful prosecution of the war"