NEW U.S. SHIPS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 34, 10 February 1943, Page 3

NEW U.S. SHIPS

TEN TO ONE INCREASE Admiral Says Goal For 1943 Will Be Achieved N.Z. Press Association.—Copyright Rec. 10 a.m. WASHINGTON, Feb. 9. Admiral Emory S. Land, chairman of the United States Maritime Commission, testifying before the House of Representatives Appropriations Committee, said the commission expects 4403 ships of all types to be completed in the fiscal year ending June 30 next.

Asked if the goal for 1943 of 16.000,000 tons would be achieved, he replied, "Undoubtedly, provided the materials are forthcoming."

Admiral Land said shipbuilding had been increased in the ratio of 10 to one and the number of emplovees had increased from 55,000 in 1939 to 650,000. "By the end of the year," he added, "there will be 1,000,000 shipbuilding employees."

The cost of Libertv ships, he said, had risen from 1,600,000 dollars to 2,000,000 dollars, and he submitted a statement showing that the commission had recaptured 24,000,000 dollars by negotiating new contract prices.

"We have not yet broken the back of the U-boat, campaign, but we hope that our efforts this year will be better than last year," said Admiral H. R. Stark, commander of United States forces in European waters, who has returned to Britain from America. He added that co-operation against U-boats between the American and British Navies was very close.

Germany was throwing everything into the U-boat campaign and it was a vital phase of the war, Admiral Stark said, and added: "But I hope that by the end of 1943 we shall have the U-boats where we want them." The bombing of the U-boat services at Lorient and other bases was a vital element in the struggle.