AMERICA'S "DIVER DEFIERS."

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 6, Issue 281, 1 June 1917, Page 4 (Supplement)

AMERICA'S "DIVER DEFIERS."

It is unniistakcably evident (say.s the 'Frisco correspondent of tiie Otago Daily Times) that Unce Sam intends to cudc vour to assist John Bull in clearing the seas of (lie German pirates. This

' as manifest by the visit to San I'rauciseo on March 28 0." Theodore Brent, vice-chairman of the United States Shipping Board, who appealed in the California]] metropolis to arrange for the building of what has just l>een termed "sea jitneys." As a result of the confereice with Pacific Coast shipbuilders and the timber interests, Curie Sam was informed that the Western shipyards are prepared to construct, upon short notice, more t-han naif of the 1000 small wooden freight-carrying vessels which the United States Government plan to use in running the German submarine blockade around the coasts of Great Britain. It is understood that the ".-ea jitneys" will b? armed for defensive purpose's. The vessels will be from 3000 to IuOO tons, with a speed of from 12 to It knots, and they will le constructed and fin idled wit in a time limit of eight or ten us nibs. Some of the Western shiphuild.l estimate that with speeding up they c-liil.i tin 11 out the vessels in half t«hc time prescribed. Mr Brent said, should Germany prove successful with her submarines, the result would In- extrcnielv ( , i.~a>imus for America, and :t therefore behoved Uncle Sam to guard agaiiud any coiitingeiiev The lumber resources nf'the West freely offered their Mocks for immedi..'.e u-e. and t»'ie Miipbuilders promised to drop ail other vork should . ie (iovernmelll place the orders with the Pacific Coa-t men. Mr liic if returns to Washington to report his investigations to the Government, and in h'le meantime all forces are being marshaled in the We-t to carry out the pro- ■ ramm.. with the utmo-l despatch, and restore the depleted shipping trade over tiie Atlantic interrupted hv the llun pirate,.

Smith (looking for lodging-) : \\ niii-ii- t> a' her live-) across the lauding. That uould be rather d's-igroi-ahlo." Landlady : "Oh, that wouldn't make anv difference sir ! The man iris I nvh e child en. and they make smh a noNe lli 11. you'll in ver li-'ar the p'ano.'"