Evening star., 1942-05-23
Roosevelt Declares
Axis Sub Problem
Is Being Solved
n Cargo Ships Launched
In Ceremonies Marking
U. S. Maritime Day

President Roosevelt said last
night that the Axis submarine
threat to United Nations shipping
still is serious but that the problem
'like others confronting us, Is be-
ing solved
The President made his state
ment in observance of Maritime
Day which saw American shipyards
send q merchant vessels into the
seas to carry the tools of war to
the corners Of the earth.
Submarines have taken "a heavy
toll" Mr.. Roosevelt said. and I'VE
have been, we still are confronted
with a serious shortage of ships to
carry the essentials of war"
In answer to that shortage and
to Axis sea raiders the United
States has embarked on the greatest
shipbmlding program ever at
tempted by any nation-23, ,000, 900
deadweight tons of shipping by the
end OF 1943 or around 1900 vessels.
Ship Miracle" Assured.
To-day I can assure you that we
will perform this near-miracle of
ship production" the President
said. THE Nations shipbuilding
capacity has been increased more
than 500 per cent. That of itself
Is an outstanding achievement"
Admiral Emory S. Land, war ship
ping administrator, said last night
in Maritime Day speech at Bos-
ton that shipyards twill be deliver
ing three day by fall" adding:
I'm not talking about launchings
II mean ships put into active war
service"
Rear Admiral Howard L. Wick
cry, Maritime Commission vice
chairman, who supervises the con-
struction program, spoke on the
critical matter Of materials.
If the steel is produced, he told
the Propeller Club of the Port Of
New York, Il am confident that
American shipyard workers will de-
liver not the $1,000 o0O-ton objective
set by the President for 1942) but
upwards to 20,OOo,OO0 tons" of ships.
Victories in Shipyards.
He said that bombs which drove
back the japanese fleet in the battle
of the Coral Sea were brought to
the scene of action by merchant
ships whose keels were laid after
Pearl Harbor.
Our shipyard workers will go
right on winning such victories in
increasing numbers" he said.
Admiral Vickery praised particu-
larly the work of the Oregon Ship
building Corp, Portland. which yes
terday sent three vessels into the
Pacific, all of which had been built
in less than Is days-one in go
days. Original construction schedules
called for 105 days.
In New York, Capt. Ralph w.
Dempwolf, senior officer of the
United States Coast Guard in the
Sd Naval District, predicted that
more than 10000 officers and men
will have to be trained to man the
huge cargo fleet. .
mo seamen of other nations can
be compared with the trained Amer
lean Sailors" he said.
Brewster Says "Steps Taken"
At Portland, Me, Senator Brew
ster, Republican, of that State. a
member Of the Truman committee
investigating war industrial prog
ress, said that steps are being taken
"au too tardily" to protect coastal
shipping from submarine.
He charged that the Govern
ment's failure to provide adequate
facilities is one of the chief causes
of the lag in the ship program"
Baltimore shipyards sent three OF
the q vessels down the ways. One OF
them, the U. S. S. Calvert. launched
at the Bethlehem Shipbuilding Yard
at Sparrows Point, Md, was spon-
sored by Mrs. William Reed Fitch
of Washington, whose husband is
Maritime Commission official.
Text of Statement.
The text of Mr.. RooSevelt's state
ment follows:
Maritime Day, 1s42-This is its
first war; time observance fitting
occasion for all of US, and the
people of the United Nations, to
join in a salute to our victory fleet;
to pay deserved tribute to the brave
men who man the gallant ships of
our marchant marine. and those
other heroes without uniforms. the
shipyard and factory workers.
THE 10th annual observance of
Maritime Day bears more than
ordinary significance for all the
people Of the Nation. At no time
In our history have we been more
dependent than we are now upon
the productivity of our shipyards
and the efficient operation of our
cargo vessels. We are engaged in
what is largely a war Of ocean
transportation. We must carry to
the corners of the earth the men
and materials of war; for our
armed forces and for those of our
Allies.
"a little more than a year ago
we embarked upon the greatest
ship-building program in history.
No other nation ever had attempted
so vast a maritime enterprise.
There were those who doubted our
ability to succeed. Today, I can
assure you that we will perform this
miracle of ship production.
The Nations ship building capacity
has been increased more than 500
per cent. That of itself is an out
standing achievement.
U-Boat Problem Being Solved.
I'VE have been, we still are, con-
fronted with a serious shortage of
ships to carry the essentials of war.
Submarines and the Axis aggressors
have taken heavy toll, but that
problem, like the others confront
ing us, is being solved Our ships
are going through, and will continue
to 90 through in growing numbers.
"The American people have reason
to be proud of the heroism and
patriotism of the officers and seamen
of their victory fleet. During these