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ciples were applied or 58 a THE MARINE REVIEW éylinders, éylinder liners, valve chests, pump casings, steam nozzles, etc., wéte, repaired either by oxy- acetylene or~ electric welding. A «few mechanical patches were applied. In:some cases steam nozzles were renewed by screwing in new parts with a fine thread. Electric welding was used in a majority of the cases. All of the 31 vessels in New York harbor were repaired by this method. Great credit for the success of the work on these vessels should go to the welding crews and experts actually engaged in the work. * It. was due to, the fact that railroad experience in welding broken parts was drawn upon freely that the work was executed with such effectiveness and dis- patch. To the engineer familiar with modern welding practice in rail- road and industrial establishments, the work on the German liners. presents no novel features. No. new prin- untried 'methods attempt- ed. In fact, the unusual success. attending the en- tire effort rests largely: on the fact that only time tested «methods were ap- pledseh S507 FS The instructions of the navy department were broad; thoroughness, and - satisfactory results were : the principal factors in- sisted upon. The orders ef the general officer in charge of the work con- __ tained the following in- junction: "Nothing should be taken for granted. Examine every piece of machinery and piping carefully. Work only by the process of elimination, in order that no vandalism may be overlooked." _In preparing the electric welds, standard railroad practice was followed. Since the broken parts had been thrown overboard, it was first necessary to make castings to replace these pieces. This required a care- ful survey of each boat, followed by thé preparation of drawings and patterns. The new pieces usually were cast out of steel, because steel welds most readily to cast iron by the electric process. The edges of the welds were chamfered in the usual manner. - In most cases 7%-inch clearly visible. steel studs were screwed into the unbroken portion of - the casting, along the line of the break so as to form an anchorage for the welding metal." 'The welds were filled gradually and carefully pegmed' and caulked as the work 'proceeded. Air cauilki "was an important This is a particularly difficult electric weld. The method of anchoring the weld to studs and the cord-like structure are This weld was tested four times before passed as tight. In every case the leak was between the welded metal and the cast-iron cylinder wall. welded metal joined the cast-steel patch. ' part of the process as it served not only to densify the metal, but to close up porous spots and _ locate brittle sections, which were always cut out and refilled, As a result of the capable manner in which the welding problems on these boats were handled, some startling economies of time and money were realized, It was estimated that new cylinder castings for the GEORGE WASHINGTON would cost $65,000. The broken parts were actually welded electrically for $15,000, What is even more important, six months time was saved. To replace two broken cylinders on another boat it was estimated an expenditure of $32,000 would be required, together with 10 to 12 months time. The damage was repaired by electric welding in 52 hours at a cost of $2600. satisfactory results were secured from the oxy- acetylene process. Some in a paper on oxy-acety- lene welding presented of the American Foun- drymen's association by Stuart Plumley and pub- lished in The Iron Trade Review, Nov. 22, 1917. Most of the oxy-acety- lene welding was_ per- formed at the Norfolk navy yard. The cylin- ders were removed from the boats and taken to the shops where the work tiously. The.usual pre- heating methods were followed. All of the welds were tight and no trouble has developed. Steel anchorage studs, such as were employed for the electrically welded cylinders, were not utilized. Also the broken parts were replaced by cast-iron instead of steel pieces, since by the oxy-acetylene process it is practicable to weld two cast-iron surfaces, using a cast-iron. filling rod. Such are the outlines of the great contest between Prussian vandalism and American constructive genius. The Germans played, and lost. marine and transport service is just 109 ships to the good. 'These vessels have been reclaimed from the jaws of the Prussian monster and set to work for humanity and freedom. | Their aggregate tonnage is mearly 700,000. They are serving the nation in its war for democracy. Best of all, virtually every one of these boats No leaks showed where the is today a better all around steamship that it ever "was under the German flag. 'Such is true efficiency. : February, 1918 | Equally startling and details of this phase of the work were included . at the Boston meeting. could proceed expedi--- Today our merchant: