The Daily News. FRIDAY, JULY 12, 1918. AMERICA'S SHIPBUILDING ACHIEVEMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 July 1918, Page 4

The Daily News. FRIDAY, JULY 12, 1918. AMERICA'S SHIPBUILDING ACHIEVEMENT.

The celebration of Independence Day by the Americans in 1918 will stand out from all other records of the glorious fourth by reason of the remarkable achievement in shipbuilding, for nearly one hundred ships were launched on that day, totalling 450,000 tons, besides fourteen destroyers. In twelve months America has built 1622 vessels, bringing the strength of the merchant marine to more than ten million tons. During June the United States' record was 280,400 tons of new shipping, and as the British yards in that month turned out 134,159 tons (over 60,000 tons less than in May) the total output in June for the two countries was 414 569 tons, somewhat less Ihan the tonnage launched by America alone on Independence Day. The latest returns of submarine sinkings are lor May. and they are set down at .'■;55.fi94 tons, so thai, the output from (he British and American t'.irds in June shows a surplus of new construction over sinkings of nearly 59,000, independent of what the other Allies and neutrals

are producing. America is aiming at an output of from 5 to 8 million' tons a year, or nearly double the present rate. It lias to be remembered that at the time of America's entry into the wav she possessed thirty seven steel shipyards. Since then eighty one additional steel and wood yards have been located, Avhile eighteen others have been expanded. In the new and expanded yards there are being built 235 new steel shipways—26 more than at present exist in all the shipyards of England, so it is evident that the Allies must rely mainly on America for new ships. The United States authorities recognise that unless they get their men to the battlefront they will not win the war, therefore the Shipping Board is putting forth its utmost effort to supply■ the necessary shipping. No wonder they point with pride to the fact that in less than eight months they built up a shipbuilding machine, which, when it gets into full swing, will defeat the German military machine that took forty years to build up. The expanding process is still proceeding and it is anticipated that before long the country will have 730 steel and wooden ways producing ships. In a statement recently made by the chairman of the Federal Shipping Board (Mr. E. Hurley) he described how thq vast programme was progressing. He said that the total amount of the Board's steel construction programme on March 1, was 8,205,708 dead-weight tons, including 3,045,408 tons of requisitioned vessels. Approximately twenty eight per cent have been completed, the excess of new floating tonnage over the output in 1910' being approximately fifty per cent. It should be noted that in addition to building new ships, America has had to construct additional yards involving huge expenditure and labor, but, despite this handicap, produced in the past three months nearly as much tonnage as was constructed by all other nations of the world combined. America now has thirty five steel shipyards, with 258 wa/s on the Atlantic and Gulf coast; nineteen with 66 ways on the Pacific, and thirteen with 74 ways' on the Qreat Lakes—fiftv one more berths than England has at the present time. It is obvious that the labor question has presented some difficulties, in view of the fact that the number of emfe C n S has risen from less than 45,000 men to 236,000, but the way m which the ship-workers have realised the immense importance ot their work and responded to all demands has been most significant and gratifying. Equally noteworthy is the achievement of America in the direction of preventing existing ships from being sunk. She has at present, according to Admiral Sims, 250 vessels, 3,000 officers and 40,000 men serving in European waters from the White Sea to the Adriatic, and during the current year over treble the number of destroyers will be fighting for the Allies, while over 150 submarine chasers will soon be doing duty in the war zone, half of them being already there. It was recently stated that there were between four and five thousand anti-U boats of all types operating, and the time is at- hand when the Allies will be able to convoy all merchantmen through the danger zone with the same success as that obtained by the convoys of the American transports. "We may, therefore view with confidence the maritime position of the future, especially in its bearing on the successful issue of the war. Without the necessary ships America's aid would be impossible, but with thorn goes hand in hand the means tor securing that final and decisive victory for which the civilised world is yearning.