The chronicle-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1920-1941, 1940-06-14

EAAH844Hf EAuE m4t~t&C8tN INTO
tire placid waters % the aanghaa
River. To-Day our thoughts 60 ba<f
% q period Of more than = yezr
aRo when . group Of eisic-mindsd
citizens headed BIZ our friend ard
neixnboE. the Dynamic and unneifiah
HerTnes Uantter. set about 20 bring
this plant here This ship repre-
senss the nruittnn Of all a. our
dreams Il Ia not only the largest
ship ever launched within the Dor
defs q the great State 81 MlsAts-
sippt. II Is not ahnsae tire most
modern ship OF is type bot It also
represente the areasess sonnaee ever
assembled anywhere m ths wori6 IN
the form Of ar al welded bottom
n IL q far cry from the canoe Of
the pascARosaa Indian. which Wa
first launched CT the banks Of this
historic river. 20 TINS great lesiAthAn
OF TIE deep
Moreover. the launching Of this
Aaip MARKS tire acquisition %
another unit IN the nations program
Of national defense For after =
disaeAFtening decline IN 0H naer~
chant marine IN the decade between
1870 and 1880. the American Con
greae created the United States
Maritime Commission. which IA 80
effectively restoring American
strength On ths seven seas The
United States Maritime Commission
mas devised ard Is nav executing
3 ten.yeaT program for replacing the
obsolete vessels In 0IF merchant
fleet which viii provide this nation
with the fastest and most efficient.
and probably the most modern. feet
Of merchant vessels IN the world
The Excheuucr. which you admire
here today. Is = prime example, Of
the efforts OF this government 20
bring about this mnchiy desired OBJ
lecttve A cargo vessel Of the C-S
type. Ahe viii do better than II
knots Her cergn handling machinery
ts among the most efficient IN En-
tstence. Her navigating equipment
rs neIi rs her propulsion maehtneT
vii give une utmost In safety as
well IS economy Of operation. In
the event Of war 4he and her y
sister ships. nov constructed or un-
der construction. can effectively sup
py TIE fleet II that should not
be necessary they can transport
the strategic raw materials which
gill be needed by this country In
the event Of such q national crisis
An efficient merchant marine feet
Is as essential IN times OF war as
arr the mighty battleshiw under
direct control Of the Navy. II Is
true that vessels Of this type are
not combat ships IN the sense Of
xaging a naval battle. but OF equal
importance Is the fact that each
merchant anip ear be used % bring
the materials and products necea-
sary TO the intense industrial ef-
fort Involved IN = modern var. TIN.
chromium. manganese. and rubber
are as essential under modern war
fare IN q great national crisis -
are men N gunA.
T1te construction Of these Mari
time ships thus being as much .
part of Nj national defense rs the
wearing Of a uniform or the shout
dering Of . gun. | am confident thai
every mar. from the humbiest negro
ia6urer who handles q piece Of tim
Der to tine SKILLED craftsman who
lays out the plans Of the ship. Is
fully aware Of the Importance and
the patriotism Of their several en-
deavorR. 8o-cAIled fifth column
activities. sabotage. and other sub
verxsve activities should BE- froWTed
upon tn tina important task of build
ing this portion Of the nations de-
Tense linz rs strongly ~ they would
be condemned IN the armed or naval
forces IN Our first line OF national
defense.
Let every American who enters
yonder gates % perform his daily
task consider himself as much =
patriot as he wno WearA t1sa Eal-
form OF q sailor. q marine. or 3
soldier IN the armed forces Of his
country God forbid that this coun-