New-York tribune., 1919-01-09
Construction Instructor at
Detroit Plant Resigns;
Makes Severe Charges
Would Tell Senators All
Letters to Employer and
Lodge Allege Defects in
the Submarine Chasers
STAFF Correspondence &C

ing plant of the Ford Eagle Shipbuild
ing Company, where sixty submarin
chasers have been or are being built
dropped depth bomb to-day when h
sent his resignation to Henry Ford
charging that the Eagles arc structu
rally so defective as to make them veri
table death traps.
Mr.. Leroy said he tried many times
to get information. direct to Mr.. Fore
about the faulty construction of the
boats; that he had been hindered II
each instance by "red tape and lackeys,'
and that, as an honest man, mindful
of the lives and safety of American
sailors, he could not, in good con
science, continue in the Ford service
knowing that the work on the Eagles
despite his repeated protests and his
suggestions looking to Improvement ir
methods, was hopelessly faulty.
simultaneously with his letter tC
Henry Ford Mr.. Leroy sent a letter tt
Senator Lodge Offering to appear be
fore the Senate Naval Committee in it:
proposed investigation of the eagle
boats.
MIR. Leroy's Letter
Mr.. Leroy's letter to Ford follows:
ever since have been in your en-
ploy | have tried to get the informa-
tion to you that your Eagles were be-
ing murdered in the construction of
parts have been left out, which
would cause an Eagle to blow her.
self up with her own depth bombs;
that so per cent of all rivets were
burned and spoiled that went into
the boat; that the mushroom rivet
was a structural rivet and not fit to
use for water or oil tight work; that
all margin plates and margin angles
in other words. the "knees" of the
hoat--had been left out of the de-
sign; that from the stem to bulk
head ~ the boat had no centre vert-
cal keel. and therefore no strength;
in other words, that your company
was building a veritable death trap
for sailors who would operate them.
81 wrote reports to my. superior
officers calling their attention to
these facts, thinking that some of
them would reach you and that you,
if your attention could be reached,
would prevent such construction, for
did not believe and do not now be-
lieve that you personally had any
knowledge of the facts as they exist.
have tried to save your good name,
for have admired you for years, al
though l never met you. But you
have so surrounded yourselfswith red
tape and lackeys that | could, I be-
lieve, get an interview with King
George of England easier than l
could with my employer
Believes Ford Innocent
Now the whole unsavory mess is
going to come out in Senate investi-
CATION which may ruin your good
name forever, for they may place the
blame on you instead Of the guilty
parties, and | believe you to be en-
tirely innocent of all wrongdoing and
will always so believe until you tell
rae different yourself personally.
al even went to the trouble of writ
ing a manuscript of a book called
ships and Rivets and How to
Drive Them" and dedicated it to you.
thinking that YOUR secretaries would
let you read that. and there in that
book you would have found some Of
The information I wanted to get to
you, but, no, ] do not believe they
ever let you see it and | doubt if
they let you see this letter.
"lf they Go, let me know where and
when ! can see you for personal
Interview in which can tell you all
about what is being put over on you
and your boat. the Eagle. I cannot
stop the investigation but / may be
able TO help you personally in the
matter in proving your entire in
nocence personally. expect that
your lackeys will try to discharge me
from your employ, so hereby tender
you my resignation if you desire to
nave me leave your employ for being
man and having conscience. |
nave stepson in the navy. 7 DO
not want him assigned to an Eagle
as they have been built in the past,
neTner do want to see any other
mems sons' lives endangered by sail
ing or one Of these boats
! can take and build those boats,
WIN some changes, so they would
~, tne oili and be of value. | know
az ABOUT them and just where they
are wrong.
III you get this letter let me hear
from you at once"
Leroy's Letter to Lodge
follows - ''e"aSol Lodge
Win reference to your proposed
.@hsest'sation eh.sn OF Ford Eagles" their
..nhaIacier and construction. etc,
oasn NY, tne Senate Naval Committee,
invaas.t 70 inform you that such an
n,';Ssgation cannot be had too
Who ~ :. the safety OF the sailors
10 h., 20 20 70 to sea in those boats s
suffe,;,'n. ,;,onsiuefed; likewise if the long
are ta r.aai' ana patient paying public
all any consideration as
When the war h~o1 ,. 49,,
occnns,; business az non-egsentiaI
bipasaon businen and went back to my old
mad pas o. shipbuilding, OF which
ultjsoa,"i,'eage j,ow'eage and past experience.
HE,iy HEso,es gong TO work in the Ford
instrre, fiSnt mere In Detroit as an
the stSoi., am now employed in
plan. "1noleD department Of said
~ "s - ~ soon az saw the boat
des;,.,cn acn structural weaknegs in the
be;n@ VI tne boat and the way it was
carr assembled and built that I
tbsa',nce 70 send in to the company.
,sh Iss officers higher up,
de<ent !" reports in reference TO the
whiasS' "hscn are complete. and Of
eoniaa reports have kept true
d;.; a"se reports show serfous cen
laet los - oi affairs in references 70 the
,,s.stss.l - slrength. unseaworffiness and
g,st g,stDsn.y NJ the Eagles Az re-
brn,,,l. ~ tnoSc reports + have been
.,1kas go, , up on The carpet before ecy-
sha. ~ Inc higher officers and have
H. f,y%h @ 'afrn tbat the conditions i re-
sbax - arg 1sets. hut they claim To me
ny the faults nro fhc fas,Itn ssT ~