The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-08-14
Admiral Lands Appeal

Deneatl
the President in Washington who has done
more to win the war and said less about it than
Vice Admiral Emory S. Land.
The country's No. l shipbuilder-operator is
man of few words and many works. It's
fairly well-known that he dislikes publicity.
personal or otherwise, and of all the wars
agencies his is the quietest about its achieve
ments The bridge of ships' he was assigned
to build and operate, as chairman of the War
Shipping Administration and the Maritime
commission, has surpassed all expectations
both as to volume, quality and minimum time
OF output. Without it, our successful global
warfare would have been impossible.
First the numerous yards under supervision
OF his commission shattered record after rec
ord in construction of Liberty Ships those
work horses of the sea needed so urgently
back in the day when we and our allies were
dong away with the too little and too late"
charge. Next came the conversion of the ship
ways and facilities to production of better.
long-range vessels, such as the Victory and
the CT. Now majority of his. better yards
are engaged on military craft All through
these periods of conversion, they have kept
the ships going to sea. At no time has Admir-
al Land given anyone cause to cry aloud for
shipping space. All this has been done with
minimum of fanfare. The Admiral has appar-
emily made it a point to keep out of the pub
lie prints, except in those cases when the op-
portunity to advocate a great postwar Mer-
oh ~. 4l,:z
slider him the countrys best authority To have
him pass out of the picture when peace comes
would be terrible blow to those determined
that the United States shall haul its share of
the worlds goods in the future
AS we have said the admiral seldom speaks.
therefore, when he does express himself, his
words are worthy of real consideration from
all interested and affected in today's Ship
building program.
few days ago he wired Captain Roger
Williams, president of the North Carolina Ship
building company, most important message
Important, We assert, to the advancement of
the war, to the men who are building ships in
Wilmington and to the city's future as ship
building center.
Certainly there is nothing more important
In shipbuilding today than these vessels Conn
bat loaded transport type, popularity known as
the AKA, being built here, nor do believe
that there is any more important item being
produced for the war effort Admiral Land
said.
Each of these vessels is scheduled to pIay
an important part in the forthcoming military
operations, and the planned timetable of the
future prosecution Of the war is dependent up
on them.
accordingly. on behalf of your government.
urge you, every member of your staff and
every worker IN your yard to stay on the Job.
work harder than ever before. and leave no
stone unturned to insure that each of these
vessels is delivered on time'' the telegram
read
Inc Admlrars message is an exceptionally
clear statement Of facts ana opinion.
The AQA's have a definite place in the Ma.
vy's plans; they must be delivered on time
for the reason given in the message. There
fore, it's up to every man and woman help
ing build them to see that they do their full
snare That means a minimum of termina-
tons, no unexcused abSenteeism.
1t had lot to do toward the future of the
shipyard and Wilmington.
Here's why.
This yard-and this is not our opinion but
hard facts unearthed and publicized by the
thorough and practical Truman committee
was one of the country's best builders of Lib.
erty ships When the time came to assign CO
contracts 1t was, because of the past fine per.
formance one of the first in the deal. Again
it did good job. Evidence of this fact is that
ten OF the vessels were purchased outright
from the VISA by prominent shipping lines for
postwar operation. Then came the AKA pro
gram and new assignment because of the
good record. Now the AdmiraTs appeal TO,
greater effort. We feel that it will be met but
IN the long rum that's up to those building the
ships. They should realize the importance O.
the opportunity to place another good mari
in the books
The commission has said that of it's man,
: yards, those with the best performances will
continue to operate the longest after the neet
for ships passes the present acute stage If tn,
: local yard maintains it's high standards, IT,
, safe to preune it will continue to receive FIJI
consideration in work ASSIGNMENTS Th a