The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

HAA HA | HHI ct MN | f! a 2p: AP : "aml \ WA | | % : AT } CEN ) : P Xo | | | | TT | | TTT Hil | ANAT A VOL. 48 CLEVELAND AUGUST, 1918 NEW YORK No. 8 YV 0 ) Z A/O/Y WAVY 'Yo "4 Za "a Men Carrying on Government's Vessel Constructing Program Answer Germany's Challenge in Wonderful Fourth of July Launching Record MIRAL JELLICOE could hardly have known four or five months ago how American ship- yards would celebrate the Fourth of July. In A that respect he was in the same position as the group of German admirals of the Von Tirpitzian ilk who despite the familiar saying are prophets without honor save in their own country. But the former commander of the British grand fleet has scored again over his rivals. His prediction months ago was that by Aug. 1, the submarine menace would be removed and Germany's illegal campaign would be under control. He meant, and other authorities have subsequently confitmed this impres- sion, that ships would continue to be sacrificed to Teutonic lust, but that as a major factor in the winning or losing of the war, the submarine would by that date be permanently discounted. What Has Happened in Fifteen Months The month which witnessed the greatest tonnage sunk by the torpedoes of the Hun also marked the entrance of the United States into the war. The month which, if we may accept the predictions of competent authorities, is to witness the definite de- thronement of the submarine from its former post of importance, has already been marked by solid assurance that America's great shipbuilding task 1s being successfully met. | Repetition of the bare figures alone, furnishes a basis for satisfaction over the progress we have made and will make. Without any unjustified delays in retarding launchings for the mere sake of piling up a record, the Fourth, according to official announce- _ ment, was celebrated by American shipbuilders in a Way that no other nation ever was able to observe its national holiday. A total of 95 ships, deadweight tonnage 474,464; 42 steel ships of 287,464 tons, and 53 wooden ships of 187,000 tons. That the record 1s no 24-hour flurry was shown a few days later when officials announced the total ship deliveries in the week _ nding on the Fourth aggregated 23 ships of 321 122,771 tons, or 20,462 tons each working day. ~The Fourth of July record has been named as a new Declaration of Independence, and the deeper significance of the day gives the phrase body and meaning far beyond a neat figure of speech. Essen- tially, the wonderful total placed in bold display before the eyes of the world the wide scope of America's aroused industrial force. It shattered what semblance of belief Germany's present leaders may have held in the feebleness of America's | wers--a belief, whether real or feigned, which they l...ve been loudly parading before their present dupes. It gave tangible assurance to our allies that our months of preparation and occasionally loud boasting, were near- ing the period of successful and continued accomplish- ment. It gave to the American people themselves the satisfaction of knowing that the apathy of past years was gone, the exasperating delays of last year were being erased by the wonderful record of the present. Winning a Place in the Sun Who can doubt the future of the American merchant marine now that an aroused American public has placed itself back of a shipbuilding program? Pri- marily a Declaration of Independence against Ger- many's dark forces of the sea, the Fourth marks also an Ultimatum of Freedom for the new American merchant marine. In stepping to her place in answer to Germany's challenge, the United States has brought to a close the dark days of our maritime decay. The response of the American shipbuilder will stand out from the pages of the history of this war. Old 'and new alike, the one who had weathered the days of declining business and the one who entered in the days of an assured market for his wares, deserve the gratitude of a nation for their work. Employer and employe, president and heater boy, are winning a big game in a big way. The record is set forth at length on the following -- pages in tables and as caught by the camera. the "big splash" become a tidal wave. May. «) 3,