New-York tribune., 1920-11-17
Charges That They Are Not
Safe Made to Committee
Investigating Board I'm
true, Shipping Men Say
Mistakes During War Only
Conditions Complained Of
Remedied Long Since and
Vessels Stand All Tests


ne conditions prevailing in connec
.;on with the American merchant
marine, shipping men point out. The
result, they say, is to create public
.ntaeonism to shipping because un-
founded charges are being allowed to
% uncontradcted and unexplained.
A, consequences of the testimony
of one witness, discharged employee
of the Shipping Board, men familiar
with shipbuilding conditions say, an
impression has been created in the
nublic mind to the effect that the ships
comprising the new merchant marine
are faultily constructed, inefficient
and unsafe That this is exactly the
reverse of the truth every one
familiar with the situation knows,
they point out.
That there were many instances of
faulty riveting during the rush of war
construction is common knowledge, it
is stated, but that all defects in this
respec. have long since been remedied
and that the. ships O.. which bad work
was done were long since made
thoroughly seaworthy is equally the
case. In fact, these very vessels have
since made many trans-oceanic voyages
without mishap and are regarded as
thoroughly safe and excellent insur-
snce risks
False Impression Given
In the testimony brought out be-
fore the committee there is stated to
have been no indication that the
faulty work charged was done dur
ing the war period and that it had
since been remedied, the impression
given being that the vessels were still
N service in dangerous condition.
The vessels to which the discharged
Shipping Board inspector referred in
mis- testimony were the first fabricated
ships Of the kind ever built, and thev
presented d problem new in many ways
70 old established shipbuilders. This
problem was solved, however. and these
vessels are to-day an efficient part of
The new marine. Precisely similar
ships are still being constructed and
put into service and a number of the
type nave made many voyages with no
mishap. There has been no case of
,Oundering al sea because of faulty
construction.
War Mistakes Unavoidable
That there should have been mis-
axes in the early. stages Of the con-
'ructon Of these types of boats was
unavoidable. III the war campaign to
ouid ships and get them into service
N as large mum bers and as rapidly
rs possible, American shipbuilders were
confronted with the difficulty Of Sc
curing many thousands of skilled work
ers where the supply was only frac-
lon OF the number needed. Riveters
lad to be created almost over nigh t,
and they were created, but it was IN
eyltable that they should lack the skill
mat comes only with long practice
Mistakes were bound to happen and
they happened.
Another element that entered into
\ me situation was the necessity for
/ speed Riveting drives were instituted
1 ana premiums put upon the number of
i ryets driven. This in itself. led to
carelessness and wherf to this was
/ coupled the earelessness Of inspectors
i impressed into shipbuilding from to-
+ aliy different trades the result was
Il aultlly cons tructed vessels. The
/ aults made themselves apparent be-
4 lore the vessels were placed in serv-
II ICE, however, and the bad riveting was
Il Gone over and done right. There were
b many Instances in which it was neces-
A ;sry to replace hundreds Of faulty
II driven rivets
h But the final inspection OF the yes
els was not left merely to the Shipping
5oard's representatives. The leading
snip classification societies, the Amer
can Bureau of Shipping and Lloyd's
Register of Shipping, had their sur
/ Veyors on duty throughout, and no
vessel went INTO service that was not
Il equipped for it,
1 Highest Rating for T.. S Ships
\ About a year ago there was con-
adorable comment in the British ship
ping press 10 the effect that the new
American tonnage WAS not properly
built. In renlv to this American ship
building interests simply quoted q
statement nude by James French, the
81 o. Lloyds Register. Mr.. French said
nat all the American steel steamers
'ohstructed since the armistice and IN
service had been rated 100A1 by
soyd's, the highest classification given
4 Oy the society As LloyG's is a Brit
IN institution. this meant that the
american tonnage had passed the
everest British tests. Publication OF
i ms fact was followed by cessation
VI criticism in the English shipping
j press.
81 In addition, the vessels classed by
'ae American Bureau of Shipping also
1 0seeiyed the highest rating given by
Ne society. Subsequent records OF
sarine casualties have demonstrated
IA nat the American vessels have had 8
81 mailer percentage of loss than those
81 other countries. The readiness with
> sMch Insurance can be secured or
american ships from foreign com
anes as we'll as American ones Is
Mother indication of the quality OF
.qpee tonnage built in the shipyards OF
q ais country.
81 u the vessels complained Of before
Ae Congressional investigating com
alsee had heen in the condition de
wriced, shipping men point out, they
aseald have yunk long ago. And from
ae shipbuilders' standpoint it is de-
JARED that American ships are open
test on the challenge that they are
'As best constructed in the world.
n
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