AMERICAN SHIPPING.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIX, Issue 208, 31 August 1918, Page 13

AMERICAN SHIPPING.

THE "GRAND SPLASH" ON iULY 4. UNCLE SAM'S SHIPBUILDING FEATS. Acclaimed as " A Xcw Declaration of IndejKadenec," the achievement of 4th of July last, when over a hundred veesels were simultaneously launched from about as many yarde all around the vast seaboard of the great Republic, will rank in history ac an event that contributed in no small degree to the -winning of the world war. The. total number of merchant ships launched was 00, with an aggregate of 450,000 tons, and at the same time 14 were added to the American Navy. The merchant ships were nearly all of the " standardised" type, and our illustration shows one of them, the c.6. Alamosa, on the point of being launched.

President Wilson's message, on the occasion of the launching, was contained in a letter to Mr. Hurley, chairman of the Shipping Board, in the following terms: —

" I am very glad to take part in celebrating the launching of the Fourth of July, and beg that you will make use of tbe following message:

" 'I join with you in feeling the greatest pride in the diligence and skill and devotion which the men in the ehipyards have exhibited in completing the fleet which is to tie launched on the Fourth of July, and I hope that you will convey to them my congratulations and my pleasure in feeling' that we arc all comrades in a great cause.'"

The appreciation of Chairman Hurley was contained in this telegram sent the managements of all yards: —

" Our historic launching day ie a new Declaration of Independence. It is (treat. Yet it is only America's stride. The big splash will go round the world. Your yard helped make it. Your employers are*"behind Perehing's men, behind the faith of France, the dogged courage of England, the vim of Italy. They will douse the Ka'ser. After that these ships mean service to our neighbour nations, ranged on decomeracy's side in Latin-America. Thanks and hearty good wishes from Mr. Schwab and myself. Let us all go back Friday morning to work for greater records. I believe you , will share our satieaction in Jane figures of tOiips completed and delivered, just compiled, showing 280,400 tons actually put in service during June."

Since the United States entered the ■war up to August 15 there have been 1,500,000 tons of shipping added to the nation's mercantile marine, bringing the total strength up to over 10,000,000 tons. Mr. Chas. M. Schwab, Director ■of Shipping .Construction, declares that the output for the year 1918 will reach the enormous total of 3,000,000 tons; but even this will be exceeded when the American shipbuilders "get into their etride," for it is their aim to aeooni-,

plish 500,000 tons a month. The tremendous labour involved in

the shipbuilding programme lias neceesitated a call for women workers, and the women of America are responding nobly. At one establishment alone, the American International Shipbuilding Corporation, at Hog Island, Philadelphia, over 125 women a day have applied for work in the yards. Already 3,000 women are employed there, and, according to the manager of the women's employment department, the most alert, intelligent, and honourable class of young women in the country are the applicants, and their opportunities for advancement are unlimited, not only in the administrative and clerical departments, but also in the constructive.

As showing how American ingenuity and pushfulness are operating, a few notee on shipbuilding on thye Great Lakes, hundreds of miles inland, may prove instructive. In these shipyards, according to the Emergency Fleet Corporation, 120 deep sea ships <wUI be built

this year. Three ships ore floated to tbe Atlantic through a scries of canals, carrying their own "middles" on their decks. More explicitly, the lake yards "build ships of 2(50 feet length, which are towed through canals to yards on the Welland Canal, where tlipy are cut in two. On the Atlantic Coast an additional flOft is inserted between the two sections of the chip. and it is then launched, a veeriel liiifift long. The fabricated nmtcrial for the additional flCft is carried from the lake yards by each chip.

These are a few details of the great work that is l>oing done in America—a work which completely eclipses that which Spain achieved in building the Great Armada. History is being made in America to-day, and it is not the history of a great aggression, but of a mighty defence, which will mark a new Independence Day for the world—the triumph of Freedom and Justice over German arrogance and tyranny. "TRIM THE KAISER." WAR SONG OF SIUrVAKD WOKKBEB. W. D. Strahl, an employee of the U. M. Standifer Construction Company. Portland, Ore., has written a song for workers in the national shipyards, to l>o sung to the tune of "Marching Through <icorgia. -. He gives the composition the title, "Help Trim the Kaiser."

Bring the adz and hammer, boys, the aie, the saw, the plane; We'll bnlld some ships Tor Uncle Sam to sail Rcross the main To carry to the battle front munitions, men and strain. Thns will we help trim the Kaiser. Chorus: ■Hurrah, Hurrah, we'll send the ships to sea; Hurrah. Hiirrnh, we'll set the captives free While helping wtin the hellish Huns our daily song RhaJl be. Up, boyrt, and help trim the Kaiser. Think of all the horror, boys, of babes and mothers slain— Of girls vrhn suffered worse than death iv anpulsb and in pain, To satisfy the German lust for murder, rape and pain. That's why we'll iclp trim the Kaiser. Freedom's voice is calling, boys, our country looks to yon; To do onr very utmost is the least that we can do. Let each of us strive earnestly—let every heart be true. Up, boys, ami help trim the Kaiser.