GREAT CONTRIBUTION

Wairarapa Times-Age, 25 May 1942, Page 3

GREAT CONTRIBUTION

TO ALLIED WAR EFFORT SHIPBUILDING IN U.S.A. MIRACLE OF PRODUCTION. PROMISED BY PRESIDENT. (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) NEW YORK, May 23. American shipyards celebrated Maritime Day yesterday by launching 27 vessels , on the Atlantic .and Pacific coasts —the largest single day’s launching since the first world war. It is stated by the Maritime Commission that the shipyards are now averaging two vessels daily, but the fact is stressed that this number musr be doubled for the purpose of producing the scheduled 2300 vessels during 1942-3.

Four of the 27 new vessels were placed in service yesterday, one of them only 60 days after the keel had been laid down —a world record. President Roosevelt, in a statement issued through the Maritime Commission, said: “There were those who doubted the United States’ ability to succeed in the programme when it was launched a little more than a year ago, but today I can assure you that we will perform this year a miracle of ship production. The nations’ shipbuilding has been increased more than 500 per cent.” Mr Roosevelt paid a tribute to the heroism and patriotism of officers and seamen of the Merchant Marine during these dangerous days. “They never falter in the perfomance of their duty,” he said. “The nation’s maritime industry is writing a war time preface to the most glorious chapter in our history. It is making a vital contribution to the immediate war effort and is clearing the way for America’s fuU restoration to a position in the world's trade befitting so great a nation. “We have been and still are confronted with a serious shortage of ships to carry the essentials of war, and submarines have taken a heavy toll, but that problem, like the others confronting us, is being solved. Our ships are going through and will continue to go through in growing numbers.”

WONDERFUL PACE SET IN BRITISH SHIPYARD. (British Official Wireless.) I RUGBY, May 23. A British cargo ship of 7200 gross tons, which was delivered to the owners in less than five months after the keel was laid in a Scottish shipyard, has just sailed on her maiden voyage. This has set a wonderful pace in shipyard construction, and has probably created a record.