Evening star., 1941-09-27
WheotIey
Continued From First Page.)

Senator Radcliffe of Maryland paid
high tribute to American labor.
Where else in the world, than in
America, could there be such an ac-
complishment?" Admiral Land
asked, in his address preceding the
launching here.
"A little more than six months
ago." he continued, the Maritime
Commission made contract with
the Fairfield Shipyard.
Yet today the first Liberty Ship is
being launched, the keels of ii
others have been laid-the 18th will
be laid today-and they will follow
the Patrick Henry off the ways in
rapid succession during the next
few weeks.
"As long as America faces the
crisis and challenge of Hitlerism and
until there is restoration of peace,
of order and of human decency in
this world there will be continuous
and increasing flow of ships from
this and other American plants"
Previous Time Halved.
Admiral Land told the throng at
the ceremonies. which included
members of Congress and high Gov
ernment officials as we'll as shlpyard
workers. that the Patrick Henry was
leaving the ways ahead of schedule.
In fact. he said, the entire emer-
gency ship construction program
throughout the Nation is speeded up
beyond the original estimates. He
pointed out to the shipyard workers
that they are building ships in about
half the time it took to build them
during the World War-and better
ships at that, he added.
While explaining that the workers
and the management have mace
record. he admonished them that
a good record is not good enough
IF We are to preserve the American
way of life and Christian civiliza-
ton" The superhuman must be
attained. he explained.
For that reason. he continued,
"the name of Patrick Henry is one
that will live with that of other
illustrious Americans for all time.
We can and we will live up to the
example they set.
Descendants Attend.
"It is fitting that there should be
here today as honor guests four gen.
erations of the descendants OF that
great Virginia patriot for whom
this ship is named. On behalf OF
the Maritime Commission l welcome
Mrs. Harold Mays of Baltimore,
Mrs. ]. P Quarles of Richmond,
Va: Mr.. John Winston Fontaine of
Wilson, N c., and Mr.. D. Y. Henry
of Brookneal Va, the old home OF
Patrick Henry. Most certainly
their presence augurs we'll for the
destiny of this good ship
In concluding, he felicitated Mrs.
Wallace, who had as her matron
of honor, Nine. Bruggmann, wife
of the Minister of Switzerland, and
a sister of Vice President Wallace,
and Mrs. Robert H. Jackson, wife
of the Associate Justice of the Su-
preme Court.
The whole ceremony was broad
cast by radio and before the open
ing of the formal ceremonies the
audience listened to message
broadcast by President Roosevelt.
New Ship Started.
Hardly had the ways cooled from
the friction of the Patrick Henry
sliding into the water, than ship
yard workers guided into place from
the great steel cranes the keel
plates from which sister ship will
grow to launching stage in another
few months. BY this time the
Patrick Henry will be doing her
part in the national defense pro-
gram, for she now is scheduled to be
placed in commission by December
IL.
Each of the hundreds of ships
which are to follow the launching
today, Admiral Land said, is fur
ther sign of this Nations determina-
ton that the lifelines of the world
democracies will be kept open, not
only while there is war but in
times of peace. when America is
destined once again to resume its
place as a world maritime power.
Liberty Fleet Day will be SYM
bolic of those ideas" he asserted.
The Patrick Henry, like her 81
sisters, Is AL feet inches long.
with a beam of 81 feet. She will
draw 81 feet inches of water,
and have total displacement of
l4,100 tons, capable of carrying a
general cargo of 9146 tons
Crediting presidential and con-
gressional foresight in 1896 with
clearing the way for the achieve
ments of today and tomorrow, Ad-
miral Land recalled that before the
commission was created there were
in the United States only 10 ship
yards capable of building ocean,
going cargo vessels.
Yard Capacity Increased.
Most of the capacity of those 10
yards" he said. was being utilized
for construction of Navy ships or
repair of American merchant vessels
which were fast wearing out or be-
coming obsolete. Before the end of
this year, there will be in operation
30 United States shipyards, with 234
ways devoted to merchant ship
construction, about five times the
capacity of four years ago.
1--WE have made an .auspicious
start in building those vessels which
will spell ultimate defeat for aggres-
sion, eventual survival of liberty
and final victory for Christian civili-
zation. We must allow nothing to
nullify the progress we have made
or prevent the ultimate success of