Evening star., 1941-06-03
Ship Miracle
Asked by Knox
Of Builders
U. S. Must Fight
Clock to Insure
SEQ Power, He Soys
By CLAUDE A. MAHONEY.


Calling for a production miracle
Of warships to insure the United
States and Great Britain command
OF the seas. Secretary of the Navy
Knox told $50 shipbuilding officials
at a special meeting here today ex-
ira construction speed is necessary
because I'VE are facing the greatest
danger we have ever faced since
man began to fight for freedom on
this continent"
In language regarded as commit
ting the industry definitely to partici-
patton in work of getting materials
to Britain, Secretary Knox bluntly
told the shipbuilding executives:
we must play determinative
part in the tragedy that is going on
or spend the rest of our lives and
our children's lives trying to fend
on an enemy that possesses the rest
Of the world"
Ihe Navy Secretary outlined DOS
slble plans for competitive action
among shlpbuilders to speed COM
pletion of the ships so sorely needed.
Tools and Machinery Needed,
L. H. Korndorff. Official of the
Federal Shipbuilding g. Dry Dock
Co.. also a speaker. emphasized that
1t was main machinery" that was TO
be the determining factor in COM
pletlng the ships He said builders
needed assurance of tools and ma
chlnery. Charles Edward Wilson,
president of General Electric Co.
also a speaker, said that If builders
would decide what goods thev
wanted his company would attempt
to provide them.
The meeting was told by Rear
Admiral s. M Robinson. chief of
the Bureau of Ships, that shipbuild-
ers were being called on to do more
than your best" and that it was his
belief a challenge was one sure way
to get Americans into high gear.
Secretary Knox told the builders
there was no longer any doubt about
what would win the war-a success
ful combination of sea and air
power. The implication Of a SEN
| tence from the Presidents recent
"flreside chat in which the presi-
dent said transportation OF essential
supplies can. must and will be done.
rests heaviest on this particular
group gathered at today's meeting.
he said. He termed the Presidents
speech. as a statement of policy. as
| important as any since another
President made the statement of
the Monroe Doctrine"
Must Be Built in Time.
1T is not sufficient to build ships:
but it is equally important that we
build them in time to be Of use"
the Secretary said. There Is no
fault with what you have done. but
it is not enough. You have got to
do more"
Reviewing American history, Sec
retary Knox said things bought
with courage can be maintained
only by courage. and that we shall
have to match the courage Of the
founders of the Nation to retain
these things.
Secretary Knox also said his de-
partment would be willing to set
up system of bonuses for groups
of men who had attained extra
speed and efficiency in construction.
He called for "the kind of zeal and
spirit that animate men when they
| go to battle"
Calling attention time and again
to the world situation. Secretary
Knox said it is not an encouraging
picture, adding there is no room
| for complacency or self satisfaction.
The prospect shows danger for us
and peril "for everything in our
civilization we hold worthwhile" he
asserted.
U. S. Must Fight the Clock"
In discussing the construction
program, the Secretary said that
what was needed constituted
miracle" because the United States
cannot Immediately match a nation
that has spent seven years getting
ready, he said.
I'VE must fight the clock" Secre-
tary Knox dramatically said.
Mr.. Korndcrff gave slightly more
optimistic picture Of the shipbuild-
ing situation than Secretary Knox.
He said he believed construction
facilities are in much better shape
to cope with problems facing them
than they were in the last war.
Some shipyards have advanced five
months on certain ships over their
schedules. he said, closing his brief
statement with:
"Mr. Secretary, there are signs
that the shipbuilding industry will
accept your challenge"