AMERICAN SHIPBUILDING

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 March 1942, Page 4

AMERICAN SHIPBUILDING

NOTABLE EXPANSION RECORDED. The ‘’New Republic” publishes an article by Max Gibson which states: “The expansion rate of the American shipbuilding industry indicates that the Allies will be able to gain and hold a growing advantage. The industry is doing a remarkable job. Right now, it has the greatest construction programme in maritime history and it is easily surpassing that of last year. Most encouraging is the rate at which merchant ships are being turned out. During 1939 only twenty-eight ships with a total tonnage of 241,052 tons were completed. The 1940 total tonnage was 444,727 tons. Last year the figure was increased to 740,074 tons. Ninety-five ships were completed, all of 2000 gross tons or more. . . . ■ What is very important is the ships can be and are being built fast enough to give the Allies final victory over supply routes. Rear-Admiral Land has promised two merchant ships daily as the average for 1942 and 1943. On this basis and the progress that is being made on contracts already awarded, it is shown that shipbuilding is one war industry that is geared at the pitch to deliver the goods.”