Evening star., 1941-09-27
President Calls
Liberty Fleet
Reply 10 Hitler
Policy Of Freedom
Of Secs Restuted
At ID Lounchinqs
(Tert OF Presidents speech on
Page A-9.)
BY JOHN c. HENRY,
Star Staff Correspondent.

Star Staff Correspondent.
HYDE PARK, N. Y, Sept. 81
President, Roosevelt led America
down to the sea in ships" today
signalling the mass launching of
IA merchant vessels with a chal-
lenging restatement of this Nations
determination to maintain the free
dom of the seas and to preserve the
ocean supply lines to foes of the
Axis
I'VE propose" he declared in
grimly determined tones that were
heard in teeming shipyards from
coast to coast, that these ships
sail the seas as they are intended
to. We propose, to the best of our
ability. to protect them from torpedo,
from shell or from bomb"
The Presidents words were re-
corded and released progressively
by radio transcription as the IA
vessels slid down smoking ways at
spaced intervals between 6 o'clock
this morning and $50 o'clock to-
night-on Atlantic. Pacific and Gulf
coasts.
Greatest Since World War.
1t was Liberty Fleet Day" biggest
day in the country's shipbuilding
annals since that other dark era of
the first World War. Three of the
vessels that were due to touch the
salt tides for the first time today
were Of the mis-called ugly duck
ling design, streamlined and re-
fined into trim cargo carriers which
will make up the 312-ship liberty
feet.
Six others are of the C-series
OF cargo ships, two are cargo vessels
built with lend funds under
express orders of the British govern
ment, one is of the larger C-3 pas
senger and cargo design, one an
Army transport, and the 14th an
oil tanker. Six will slide into At
lantic waters, seven into the Pacific
and one into the Gulf of Mexico.
Greatest attention in maritime
circles was being directed at the
three liberty feet" ships, first of
their type to be launched and with
the first of the trio, the Patrick
Henry, due to go down the ways of
the Bethlehem-Fairfield shipyard at
Baltimore at about noon. Listed at
14,l00 tons and capable of carrying
cargo of 9,146 tons. these ships are
designed to have speed of IL knots
and to cost about 81 100000. When
construction bugs" are eliminated,
it is planned to turn these vessels
out in about l8 weeks as compared
to an expected 80 weeks for the ini-
tial trio.
OF the 312 for which production
already is planned. 200 are slated
for operation under direction Of the
United States Maritime Commits
sion and 1l2 for transfer to British
operation.
Compliments Ship Workers.
Expected to provide a vital span
in the bridge of ships" which this
Government has pledged across the
North Atlantic, these initial three
units were uppermost in the Presi-
dents mind as he remarked today
that the Government is continuing
"at accelerated speed" its program
of rehabilitating a merchant marine
which had fallen to a low level" in
pre-war days.
The shipworkers of America are
doing great job" he told the thou
sgands who were listening to him in
the widespread yards. They have
made a commendable record for
efficiency and speed With every
new ship, they are striking a telling
blow at the menace to our Nation
and the liberty of the free peoples
of the world. They struck IA such
blows today.
They have caught the true spirit
with which all this Nation must be
imbued if Hitler and other aggres-
sors of his ilk are to be prevented
from crushing u.s."
Then, rejecting again the an
nounced intent of the administra-
ton to ask for statutory clearance
for increased protection of American
oiiPEAAAS oiid piOOnpiy 1Ol iCliONdl
of sailing restrictions, Mr.. Roosevelt
added:
I'VE. Americans, as whole can
not listen to those few Americans
who preach the gospel of fear-who
say. in effect, that they are still in
favor of freedom of the seas, but
who would have the United States
tie up our vessels in our ports. That
attitude is neither truthful nor
honest"
Harking back to the historic devo-
ton to liberty and freedom ascribed
to Patrick Henry, Mr.. Roosevelt con-
cluded his address with the promise
that:
There shall be no death for
America, for democracy, for free
dom! There must be liberty, world
wide and eternal. That is our prayer
our pledge to all mankind"
Early in his remarks, the President
ICoo CuIDC po0o AcN