WAR NAMES FOR SHIPS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XLI, Issue 9543, 23 June 1921, Page 4

WAR NAMES FOR SHIPS.

GERMAN BUILDERS PROTEST

Workmen engaged m construction of ships m several German seaports have petitioned the German Government to abandon the policy of naming new ships after famous generals m the war or men who won renown for military service before the war. The petition says the principles of democracy are undermined by such "glorification of military characters" and that such procedure ill-becomes the servants of the new republic. The unions have threatened to quit work unless the practice ceases. *

It was this feeling whiph caused workmen recently to stop the launching of the 12,000-ton ship Tirpitz, named after the German admiral. Protest also was made against the launching of the Ludendorff and the Hindenburg, although the former Field-Marshal von Hindenburg still eujoys some popularity with the union workmen employed m the sea trades.

The dockworkers' and shipyard workers' unions generally are "bitterly anti-militaristic and take advantage of every opportunity to demonstrate their allegiance to the principle of democratic government. ' They have frequently delayed shipbuilding operations or stopped them altogether by strikes involving "political questions." Former sailors of the German navy, and some former officers, have been supporting the unions m their, antimilitarist position.