SHIPS, SHIPS, SHIPS.

Taihape Daily Times, 11 April 1918, Page 3

SHIPS, SHIPS, SHIPS.

"Is Uncle Sam's .Emergency Fleet a paper ship? Is anything being done? Answer it in .contract figures. We used to have about seven active shipyards. We have almost 150 now. We used to build about 250,000 tons of shipping a year, chiefly for the navy and coast work. By 1917 we were building 800,000 tons a year, not counting naval work. By 1918 we shall have turned out 5,517,100 tons of merchant marine tonnage, not counting 727 ships building for the navy. .If you add to this total the ships commandeered the Emergency Fleet will have at its command by the summer of 1918 8,000,000 tons for war work. Suppose each ship is good for a trip a month. We shall be able to convey to the fighting line nearly a billion tons a year, or supplies for an army of 20,000,000 men. If the Emergency Fleet is building the bridge for the boys to cross to victory, be assured the bridge will be ready."—A .C. Laut, in "The Forum" (U.S.A.).