SHIPPING PROBLEM

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 86, Issue 111, 15 May 1942, Page 5

SHIPPING PROBLEM

CONSIDERED IN U.S.A. CENTRALISATION PLANS BUILDING PROGRAMME (By Telegraph—Pros Association—Copyright) Washington, May 10. With continued heavy submarine sinkings off the Atlantic coast, president Roosevelt is reported to b? working hard on plans to obtain the maximum service from the merchant tonnage available, as well as to increase the construction programme still further. It is understood in shipping circles that the President may consider the centralisation of all war transport from the factories to the termini, and thence to the fronts, under a single man. This, or some similar action, it is stated, is an essential preliminary to the appointment of the proposed Anglo-American Shipping Allocation Committee. The present allocation system has 1 been severely criticised. There is not a single Allied agency which is either receiving all information regarding strategy, supplies, production, and shipping or is authorised to dispose of available bottoms under a central plan. Admiral Land, broadcasting, said that the shipbuilding programme would be brought up Lo 15,000,000 tons in 1943, and would continue at that rate or increase until the end of the war. TOLL OF THE U-BOAT (Recd.‘6 p.m.) Washington, May 13. The Navy Department announced to-dav that a medium-sized American merchantman was torpedoed off the Atlantic coast. A small Norwegian merchantman was torpedoed in the Gulf of Mexico. Survivors were landed at United States ports. The Navy Department also announced that a medium-sized United States ship was torpedoed and sunk off the west coast of Africa. Survivors have been landed in the United States. This is the department's first announcement of the loss of an American ship in African waters. NEW SUBMARINES Washington, May 13. President to-day signed legislation authorising a 20,000-ton increase in the submarine fleet, involving the construction of more than 100 additional ships. BIDDING PRACTICES 1 COMPETITION AVOIDED (Recd. 7 p.m.) Washington, May 13. Representative Carl Vinson, chairman of the House of Representatives’ i Naval Committee, demanded to-day an ? inquiry by the Federal Bureau ol In- ■ vestigation into sub-contracting and ■ bidding practices in connection with ; work at the Cramo Shipbuilding Yard, s Philadelphia, to see whether conspiracy exists. Mr. Vinson acted after Edmund - Toland, committee counsel, had pre- > sented evidence purporting to show • that several companies avoided com- . petitive bidding by submitting higher tenders for other companies simultaneously with their own. Earlier, Joseph Donnally, partner in the Atlas Iron and Steel Company, said that he had obtained stationery for two other companies, made out higher bids for them, and submitted ■ them with his own to a sub-contractor ; at the Cramp Yard. Later, when ) pressed for a further explanation, Mr. Donnally declared: “Now here we are, I up there trying to do business, and I when a purchasing agent asks us to ■ do favours we lean over backwards.”

Britain’s 23rd Victoria Cross of the preser* war was awarded to an Aus- ■ tralian Corporal.—Corporal James Heather Gordon, of the Australian Imperial Forces, was awarded the Victoria Cross for heroism in Syria. On his own initiative he flept torward under withering machine-gun and grenade fire which covered the i entire area, succeeded in reaching a fortified machine-gun post, and killing its four occupants with the bayonet. His action so demoralised the rest of the enemy forces in the sector that, the Australian force was able lo advance and capture the position.

MORE PLANE-CARRIERS > j AGITATION IN U.S.A. New York, May 13. The controversy regarding ' the battleship versus the aeroplane which has rocked the Navy Department internally for months past, , has led to an agitation in Congress to limit or eliminate the construc- ' tion of capital ships. This was indicated to-day when - Senator 11. F. Byrd voiced the opinion r of a growing bloc in the Senate that e emphasis should be placed on the con- - struction of aircraft-carriers instead ? of battleships. Senator Byrd declared - that experiences in this war demone strated the importance of air power, - and also that the only way to get e naval planes within striking distance Y of the enemy at present is by means of carriers. Therefore more of these g shoul dbe constructed as rapidly as - possible.