The Wilmington morning star., 1945-01-01
Wilmington And 1915

Wilmington continuation Of the high level OF
prosperity it has enjoyed since Pearl Harbor
through the coming year.
Davis Next, is award Of contract for Is adj
ditional CO ships to the North Carolina Ship
building company.
Word that Camp Davis would not be placed
on the surplus property block but instead faces
many more months of real usefulness to the
var effort came with the same Suddenness
that marked first public announcement last
year that it would be closed. Continuous ef-
forts on the part of Col. Adam e. Potts, Camp
Commander, and small but persistent group
OF Wilningtonians to keep it open often met
with what appeared to be defeat. Undaunted
however, they pursued every possibility, often
through disheartening channels, with the re-
suit that the War department eventually saw
the fine possibilities for its further use. The
result is that all work of dismantling vital
parts Of the installation has been halted and
1t is making ready to receive more men,
It's too early to compare its status with
that of previous days, when thousands were
in training there, but we feel sure that it will
again occupy an important place in many
phases in the life of this community and
Southeastern North Carolina.
RESCUE" of the camp at the last minute
should give Wilmingtonians and others in this
section new leases on their thoughts and ef-
forts of making it permanent post.
Built before the days OF shortages of good
AZ e1e &c al, -,
the future training Of young men, especially
so if the country is to adopt universal COM
pulsory military training. Antiaircraft has
grown from a somewhat haphazard service
OF World War l to one of the important arms
of the fighting forces in World War H. Be-
cause of the development of aerial warfare,
it should have even more important place
III future defense arrangements. Because of
its excellent location, We know of no better
place for a training center for this corps than
Camp Davis
Award Of the contract to the shipyard was
pretty much of fore2one conclusion when it
was learned the government intended to build
IN >rc "!iirs
!. zine Ncr.1,blnation @: sound management
and good labor, commentator of this yard
has ranged from the office of Vice Admiral
Emory S. Land, chairman OF the Maritime COM
mission, to the men who sail the vessels it
has built. The cadre sent here by the New
port News Dry Dock and Shipbuilding COM
pany has maintained the high standards set
Germs. This would have been impossible, how
ever, without the conscientious men and wo-
men of southeastern North Carolina who
pitched in from the very start to do an ex-
cellent job.
A highly practical man, Admiral Land gives
assignments to those who can handle them
best. There's apparently no doubt in his mind
about the ability of the North Carolina yard
to take an order and deliver it on time AS
long as this reputation exists, there is every
reason to believe that ships will be built here
as long as the nation needs them.
The contract, plus work to be done on ones
previously awarded gives the yard total of
So ships to deliver during 1915. That means
full speed ahead for all hands; another year
Of large payroll not only for this city but
many other communities in Southeastern
North Carolina.
We've reviewed but two main factors that
60 to make the local outlook for 1945 bright
one.
There are several others 10 be dealt with
later. Meantime. dispell all pessimism that
may exist and look forward to the new year
as another to lay the foundation for greater
community in the years that will follow the
war.