Evening star., 1941-08-24
Admiral H. 6. Bowen
Is Placed in Charge
Of Operations

take possession of the Federal Ship
building and Drydock Co. yards at
Kearney, N. j., tomorrow and oper-
ations would be in charge of Rear
'Admipal Harold G.. Bowen, former
chief of the Navy's Bureau of En-
gineering
Operation of the plan will be re-
sumed as promptly as possible"
Navy statement said, adding that
workmen would be notified through
newspapers and over the radio when
they should return to work
Offlcials of the striking c. I. o.
Union of Marine and Shipbuilding
Workers Immediately pledged full
cooperation in arranging a speedy
resumption of work.
The Navy statement was issued
after President Roosevelt, at Hyde
Park, N. Y. had ordered the Navy
to take possession of and operate"
the Strike-bound plant.
Army Post on Alert.
The Navy's statement:
In accordance with the executive
order of the President signed today,
the Secretary of the Navy has des-
ignated Rear Admiral H. G. Bowen
to take possession of the plant of
Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock
Co. and to proceed at once to re-
sumo the construction of ships.
Admiral Bowen will take formal
possession of the plant on Monday,
August rs. and operation of the
plant will be resumed as promptly
as possible. Resumption of full pro-
duction at the earliest possible mo-
ment is imperative to the national
defense, and 1t is expected that
every one connected with the plant
will cooperate to that end. They
will be notified when to return to
work through the local press and
radio"
Fort Wadsworth. Staten Island,
nearest Army post to Kesrny, imme-
diately was placed on an alert, with
troops standing by to march to the
plant should their presence be re-
quired. &
Capt. Frank Haronian, the forts
public relations officer, explained
the soldiers would not take part in
actual seizure of the plant. but
would stand guard over property If
called on
Unions Pledges Cooperation.
John Green, president of the
union, pledged cooperation of the
union members. He added that this
pledge was made without in any
way consenting to the Nays taking
over" of the Kearny yard.
Mr.. Green, in a statement which
indicated concern over the future
contractual status of the union,
went on to say that the union
viewed 'as most unfortunate the
decision of the Federal Shipbuild-
ing g. Drydock Co. to abdicate its
duties and its rights"
Then, extending the offer. of full
cooperation with the Government,
Mr.. Green added:
In turn, of course, We expect that
arrangements will Immediately be
made whereby not only will the
Mediation's Board decision be vindi-
Gated, but all rights and procedures
of collective bargaining will be pre-
served for our union and its mem
bers at Kearny."
Union Meeting Called.
At the Jersey City headquarters
of Local 16 of the striking union five
officers and three trustees sent a
telegram to Mr.. Roosevelt pledging
the unions "wholehearted support
in bringing about a resumption Of
work in this most vital phase Of
our defense program"
The union officials sent kilograms
to the $50 members of the Locals
executive board summoning them to
a meeting tomorrow morning. A
mass meeting of the, unions $4,000
members was called for tomorrow
afternoon.
Paper Transaction" Seen.
An authoritative union source, who
refused use of his name, expressed
belief that the Governments taking
over the yards would amount to
nothing more than "a paper trans
action" He pointed out that the
union has suggested repeatedly that
the Government step in, and con-
sequently will offer no opposition.
The source said the Government
seizure of the plant probably would
mean no more than replacing the
company's armed guards with an
equal number of soldiers or sailors.
Walter c. Hemingway, vice pres
ident of the company and general
manager of the Kearny plant, said
at his Montclair IN. j. home that
I'VE have had no inkling of how
the Government intends to operate
or possess the plant"
But as we have said before, we