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CANADIAN YARDS TURN OUT SHIPS IN STEADY FLOW Forty-Five Corvettes Are Launched With Thirteen Mine-Sweepers r > ^fc ^{\m ^pWftjff LATEST 7 'i^^frr*- RJStlLiSffliwLo ^^rlt I ^4! MORE WILL FOLLOW Ottawa, Feb. 10.—(CP)—Forty-five corvettes and 13 minesweepers have been launched by Canadian shipyards to date, Hon. C. D. Howe, | minister of munitions, announced to-day. "Launchings of 14 or more corvettes and 18 more minesweepers are anticipated by May," he said. Canada's war-time shipbuilding program from its inception includes: 60 corvettes for the Royal Canadian Navy and 10 for the Royal Navy; 38 minesweepers for the Royal Canadian Navy and 12 for the Royal Navy; 10 wooden minesweepers for the Royal Navy; 20 Fairmile boats for the Royal Canadian Navy; 20 merchant vessels, and a large number of small craft. "All the corvettes for the Royal Navy, and several for the Royal Canadian Navy, have been delivered." said Mr. Howe in a statement. "Other work in the ship construction program has included the conversion of three fast passenger liners into armoured merchant cruisers. Other vessels have been equipped to defend themselves at sea; several trawlers, yachts and other ships have been converted into minesweepers; and two hopper barges have been converted into refuelling vessels. Build Hundreds More "A $6,000,000 small-boat program calls for the construction of hundreds of craft ranging from pulling boats to fast motor torpedo boats, and includes many boats of various kinds for the army and air force, as well as for the navy." The minister said contracts have been let to the Burrard Dry Dock company, Vancouver, for the construction of two large merchant vessels for the British government. This brings to 20 the number of cargo ships being built in Canadian yards for the United Kingdom. All are of the same design, 416 feet in length, 56 feet in beam, draw 25 feet of water, and have a deadweight capacity of 9,300 tons. About 17,000 men now are em- _ ployed in the 17 major and 45" smaller shipyards, and in allied industries. MIDLAND ICE-BREAKER HAS SLEDGEHAMMER PROW Shipping men of Midland, one of he chief grain ports on the Great akes, are preparing for the com- lg navigation season. The 80-foot jg Fairport, spending her first /inter on Georgian Bay, is churn- ig up the ice in Midland harbor i release the large fleet of grain lips loaded with winter storage. ae vessels are towed from their inter moorings and brought under le elevator to discharge their car- oes. Midland has been the off-season 3rth of the longest fleet of grain lips ever seen on the lakes. The emoyne, largest inland ship in the -orld, the Gleneagles, Emperor, 'agarty and Westmount, Riverton nd Laketon, all 500-footers, are mong the winter fleet. On the Lemoyne alone is over 500,000 bushels of storage wheat. Within the next few days the ice breaker will smash the ice around her and tow her to the elevator. The Fairport is equipped with a special icebreaking bow which is capable of breaking up a crust 24 inches thick. It only takes one good smash and the job is done. * * + FIFTEEN SHIPS ARE PURCHASED Ten Others Leased For Various Services, Ottawa Told Ottawa, Feb. 18.—(CP)—The department of munitions and supply, in a return tabled in ¦ the house of commons, reported yesterday that between September, 1939, and January 31, 1941, it purchased 15 vessels of 1,000 tons or less and leased ten for the army, navy and air force. The army received seven of the purchased vessels and two of those leased, the navy eight of those bought and the air force eight of those leased. In addition, the army itself reported chartering four such vessels between September, 1939, and November 26, 1940, and the air force said it had bought 88, chartered 18 and "obtained the use" of three more between September, 1939, and November 27, 1940. Between September, 1939, and January 9, 1941, the navy leased six, while the department of transport chartered one between September, 1939, and November 27, 1940.