Newspapers / Wilmington Morning Star (Wilmington, … / April 6, 1918, edition 1 / Page 1
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THIS IS LIBERTY, DAY -CELEBRATE ;BY BUYING A LIBERTY BOND . 1 THE WEATHER GERMANY IS LISTENING MAKE YOUR MONEY TALK BUY A LIBERTY BOND!: Generally fair Saturday except show.! crs in extreme west portion; Sunday showers. ; , , - . . VOL. CI-NO. 196. WILMINGTON; N. C SATURDAY MORIONG, APRIL, 6, 1918 WHOIE NtJMBBB 39,374 WILMMG WON CETS PERMANENT G O VERNMENT SHIP YARD mmmmnmrnmT .... . 11 ; . GERMANS ARE HURLING DIVISIONS INTO BATTLE IN AN EFFORT TmEA A Waking Desperate Axxempt to . ' 1 1 . Drive Wedge Between Brit ish and French Armies AMiENS THEIR .OBJECTIVE Allied Legions So Far Are Holding Their Lines Finn Except at Two Points THESE ONLY MINOR LOSSES Counter-Attacks in Three Salients Drive Enemy Back (Associated Press War Summary.) - In a battle which- 'has lasted since Thursday and; which proba bly is still continuing with utmost fury, the Germans have been hurl ing massed divisions against the British and French lines from far north of Albert to a short distance north of Montdidier. - Probably there has jnot been a more sanguinary - battle fought since the beginning of the Teu tonic offensive March 21 than this which has for its objective the driving of a wedge between the Mtish and French c armies, the cutting of the Paris-Amiens rail road south of Amiens and the cap ture of that city. . . - " ' . Germans Gain But Little. ' - But in spite, of the power of the at tack and the' desperateness of the fight ing the Entente allied, lesions have stood firm over most of their front- At only two points have "they been forced to give ground and these seem, on the map, to be only minor successes when compared with the ' sacrifice of "lives thich they have cost. ' Just to the southwest of Albert the British have withdrawn a short dis tance and the French have given up the village of Costel west ofMoreuil which has been the storm center of the Ger man assaults for the last few days. At this point the Teutons are within thrqe miles of the Paris-Amiens road. The German official statement claims that successes both north and south, of the Somme have been won and that the number of prisoners taken since the beginning of the drive has increased to 30,000 and the guns to 1.300 Allies May Tarn on Enemy. It seems probable chat the Entente allies have abandoned taeirFabian tae tics and now are prepared 'to give bat tle to the Germans. . They have : fixed their lines about 12 miles east of the city of Amiens and it is evident that here they have turned at bay against the invaders. The contour of the coun try back of the aUies lends itself to defensive tactics. It is quite high and is of a character which compels attack ing forces to expose themselves to con centrations" of fire from artillery and infantry. It is necessary for the Germans. to break through the Brftish'and French unes in this reeion or to outannk tne allies by a drive to the ortb aqd south f it. The fighting .near Albert and north of Montdidier seems to have for its object the turninsr of the allied po sitions. That the Albert ana Moreuu sectors are vital to the allied defense is shown by the stern resistance main wined there in the last two idays. Americans Are 'xaere. The dawninsr of the first anniversary of the entry of the Vntted States into me war finds General Pershing veter ans somewhere in the cattle zone. 'How many are there, what" units have been cnosen for the fight and where tney iU make their first appearance Is hot known, it is probable, however, that an American army of some proportions IS eitner actiiall-o In tVitt atmcra-le OP ifl held in reserve immediately behind the 'ineb. Allies Retrain Some Ground. In suite of the t.errifln strain to Which they have been subjected the allies nave struct- Viaoir at tin flArnrfan k and nave res-ainorl anma irmmH - . fn--Of inese points is near Grivesnes, a short " stance northwest nf MonMidier. an other near Hehntm.iiiiil' another Tbe tween Montdidier and Noyon, near the village of Orvillers-Sorel It is in i this litter rPB-inn Viat tVio it allied munched. Rn far a a . rt Infan- ifc-ry has been very active as far east asi AOVOn tk, is .! j , iiic lino on me uoruiciu eiuo ot the salient also his been, bqmbarded a vi iv t m Artillery Engagements. A llf e have hcAn oftilltrv Anca ffi. "ti l" ln various sectors of the Belgian and French fronts outside of the battle -; -a m i-icardy. The city t of ' Bheims nent by the Germans, tn no sector, "wever, has there been infantry fight- Sehat e Discusses Steps To Put An End Five Men Killed When Small Boat Blows Up Just After , Arriving at Elizabeth City Ellxabeth City, April 5. Five men were killed and wreckage and cargo hurled over adjacent buildings when the steamer Annie blew, up at her dock here today just after arriving from Norfolk. The vessel was load ed .with flour and sugar and the cause of the explosion remained a mystery tonight. -. - The men killed were First Mate Manus Kinsey, of Norfolk; Assistant Engineer James Nowdy, of Eden ton; and two negro- deck hands. "Two other negro deck hands were ser iously injured, one of them dying shortly after the explosion. The Annie, a small . coastwise steamer' owned by the People's Navi gation - Company, was . virtually wrecked. - ALIEN HANGED BY Formal Investigation to be Under- : taken by State Government , - at Inquest Monday U a ACCUSED - OF DISLOYALTY Mayor of Colliaayille Wirea Senator Overman Urgiaa: Immediate Pass-. . ; asre of JLa.wto Repxcaa . Sedition. , Coilinsvilfo, HX, April 5. Formal in vestigation of the death, of Robert P.' Prager. who was hanged last night by a mob which accused him of disloyalty will not be made until Monday when Roy "A. Lowe, coroner, of Madison coun ty, will hold an inquest over. the body. No arrests have been made by county officials and none Is anticipated until after the inquest Monday. ; r Chief of Police Staten of Collinsville, declared ' today that the Identity of a number . -of members of the mob was known to the authorities but that the local police would not attempt to make arrests because the crime was commit ted outside the city. Representatives of the state attorney general and ' the adjutant general will be presnt at the" Inquest, prepared to t carry xorwara any measures aeemea necessary to apprenena tnose wno par ticipated in the hanging. U vre Pwuase or uw. Mayor. Sieeel-in a statement tonight asserted - he had telegraphed today to Senator Overman, chairman of the Sen ate Judiciary committee urging the Im mediate passage of the law Imposing a severe penalty on disloyalty, it was his opinion, he said, that the violence of last night was the result oi neglect by .the federal governrnfin to, furnish this penalty. ' - We -'arrested a man charged wittt disloyalty last Sun Jay." he declared, "but because of insufficient evidence under the'present law we were unable to hold him. " The crowd last night evi dently believed that another disloyalist was about to escape and took matters into their own hands. This deplorable act merely emphasizes the necessity for a drastic law to apply in such cases Praa-er Did Notkm Bat -Talk. So far as could be learned tonight the action of the mob was precipitous and no person as yet has stated con crete1 instances 6f disloyaltyby Prager. It is known he registered as an enemy alien in St. Louis,. JUne27, giving his occupation as a Dar. ao mkbu r permit to enter all barred eones to seek employment. The permit war granted. It was also discovered that he regis tered for the army draft June SJast, and. that in April, 1917, he caused the arrest of a man on a disloyalty. eKarge. His friends assert he was radical ln his Views on socialism, but that when the United States entered the war he declared he was "aU for America. v ; .The mob idea had its inception, .it was said tonight, in a. saloon on, the ; outskirts of the citywhere m.16" w. ,hu filinsville i gathered. Many of the men were. foreigners who understood, little Enlish and it; la be lieved ' the - remarks , of Prager , were magnified with a tragic result , ; in Dresden, Germany and- came to the United. States in 1905. , AMERICA PrAIRPIANE HWbw HAS WON FIVE VICTORIES WashinKton, April 5.An official dis natch from France today says that one 2? Vh American pHots recenfly sent to t Frh front. Sergeant ;JPutnatn. tne rettww . . --i fmir victories D..iror was unmarneo. has vet been cer f : wr. " 7 yrr ', AN ILLINOIS IB tilled; MASSED To Disloyalty Other Business Laid Aside to De nounce Sedition, German Spies and I. W. W. BILL MAY PASS TODAY Overman's Efforts to Get Vote on Sedition Measure Yesterday Was Blocked by Reed CABINET GIVES ATTENTION ' , .- . . .- Legislation Necessary in Order to . Prevent Mob -Rule "Washington, Apr.5. All other bus!-, ness was laid aside by the seante to day for denunciation of disloyalty,, se dition, German" spies and the I. W; W. and discussion' of 'how the - espionage act should' be extended ; so . as to curb these evils and a vol a mob law," with out abridging the fundamental liberties- of American . citizens ; While the Senate debated the pend ing; sedition - bill, ; carrying.' severe pen alties for disloyal -utterances and at tempts' -to- obstiruct (theidraf t'-aiwi : tho Liberty; loan; 'President ; Wilson .'. arid the cabinet ' gave attention to the re ports ; of -. the , lynching of " Robert Pra ger, a German, t at ColIInsvIller - 111 last , night. Members "or ' the cabinet said 'afterWard the "deplorable . Inci dent emphasised the necessity f or im mediate legislation . that -would enable the government' to deal , with disloy alty and . enemy agitation f so that : the people would not be tempted to take the law In their own hands. : . Administration leaders m the Sen ate, hope to pass .the. sedition bill' to morrow, the "anniversary of Ameri ca's entrance into -the war.. .An agree ment for a vote tomorrow,- "Bought to night by Senator Overman, in charge of the measure was" blocked by Sena tor Reed. The Missouri senator said he was "In sympathy with he general purposes . . of the . legislation. . but thought it should nov be , hastily, con sidered. -When Senator Overman stat ed that the attorney general had urg ed passage of the bill - today because Its provisions would be needed dur ing the Liberty loan campaign. Sen ator "Reed said, that' was "utter non sense." - ' ' ' Senator Lodge introduced an amend ment prohibiting transmission through the mails of any - matter printed in the German language and Senator Lewis offered' one which would forfeit the citjsenshlp and property of per sons adjudged disloyal by a Jury. During, the discussion the attitude of -Victor- L. ' Berger, socialist candi date for the senate In the recent Wis-; . consin election,'" was denounced by Senators Borahvand .Lodge as disloyal and verging , on 'treason. Senator! Lodge,: while urging the death pWalty; .for'. spies -and German agents wbo, destroy : property ln this country, .saJ the bills -restrictions upon free speech were' too broad and could be used to suppress legitimate discussion. Senator Hardwlck sug gested that they might prevent peace talk -later when such discussion might be proper. : -' '' Opposing a provision of the' bill pen alizing declarations ' in , favor of Ger many's, "allies," jgenator Lodge, point ed out that, the United States Is not at war with Turkey . or "Bulgaria, al though, he said, "we ought to be." Senator Borah . called the Senate's attention" to .the lynching at Collins ville. Senator Fall said that if Con gress , does not enact the necessary laws, ."the people i will take the . law into their ; own hands - with Judge Lynch." Also, he said, mobs will act if 'guilty persons escape on technical ity of -the 'law. v ' ' :': t Senator Lodge objected to the wide powers: , now being exercised by the postmaster general es to -the use-of the .mails and said he preferred to in sert a " provision . ln the bill excluding certain , publications instead of "leav ing, it to a cabinet -member." r, . , . . , v TABOOED BY OHIO OFFICIAIiS Columbus,'. Ohio, April t5. State ? offi cials here have declined to use 'made In -Germany pencils.- .The -matter first came to' the attention of Secretary of State W. D. Fulton .and : C -O.v Myers, head- of the' bUer ..inspection i depart ment, forwarded back to fhe secretary of state's office a :- sample bf pencils,' accompanied by a note which' said: ' ' "These 'articles are respectfully, re turned... This department is too pa triotic to use these.; pencils; f If : heU were turned upside down-It probably would i have made-in-Germany writ ten on the, back. I . The state industrial department has - approved Myer" action ; and. Ms note. GERMAN CAPTURES TOTAL 90,000 ill AND 1.300. GUNS Between the Sommd and Luce Riv ers Gains Are Scored "Af- ' ter a Hard Struggle" TOWN OF HAMEL IS TAKEN Important Commercial and Indus tria 1 Center in Southern Russia Captured Berlin, via London, April .5. -Ninety thousand prisoners and mort - than 1.300 guns have been captured by : the Germans In their offensive on the west ern front up to. the present," says the German official communication- today. The communication' adds .that the Germans gained successes south of the Somme and on both sides of Moreuil Thursday and that British and French reserves were repulsed ' in storming attacks. , : ' . ; 'j . . In southern Russia the Germans have captured the town of Ekaterinoslav, an important commercial and industrial center "on the Dnieper 'river," 250 miles northeast; of Odessa., A - The text of the communication fol lows: v ..-v " j "After a hard ' struggle we have taken, between the .Somme -and; the. Luce . rivers, Hamel and also the .wood ed districts northeast and southeast of Villers-Bretonneux- and the Castle and Mailly on the west bank, of the Avre. " "We attackedyesterday south "of the Somme on both . sides of Moreuil "and . threw the enemy ojt from' his: strong posltionsrigiisftBdenchfireserves advanced against our troops; ; Their storming, attack broke irttder our ' Are. The enemy : showed desperate . 're sistance on the whole of the front His losses are ; consequently unusually se vere. We took; several' thousand pris onrs. - ;-. ' .'.;';':'-. ' . "According . to a - completed calcula tion, the number of prisoners brought in by the army of General Von Hutier in the period from March 21 to -March 29 amounts to 51,2l8 and the captured guns 729. With 'these, captures the whole booty, up to . trie present has risen o more than 90,000 prisoners and more than 1,300 guns. - 5 "'J "Eastern theatre: In the Ukraine , we took from enemy 'bands"on the, Pplta-wa-Constantinograd railway5 28 rail way cars loaded with French rifles and ammunition and more' than . alinillion artillery, shells. "V ' ' . ' ' "In : the Dnieper valley our advanc ing troops have taken -Ekaterinoslav after an engagement.' DANIELS ADDRESSES " MARYLAND METHODISTS PlaeaMe' "War, Methodism - and Tem perance at Big Patriotic Meet- '" - . "las at '. Baltimore. - Baltimore, Md., April. 5. Secretary of the Navy Daniels in an address' at a. great patriotic meeting of . Methodist ministers and laymen tonight in cele bration - of ; the ; ratification by the Maryland legislature of the. national prohibition amendment discussed the war, Methodism and temperancei.i.; . ' was-bbrnin the-Methodist church and rocked in ' a Methodist cradle.'t said thesecretary. God bless . the Methodist church. , I say here,, not to the discredit of any other church, the Methodists .have., sent - more? men -into the army, more.' nurses; to the front and more prayers ! ascend . to heaven from its worshippers than . any other. "We entered' this war to -preserve righteousness in the world. There Is a conflict, in irreconcilable opinions. Much that the . Germans have taught must be of value but for more than a generation their churches have, preca ed materialism:-, that denies - godlinees. When we . forget the spiritual : and come dow" uto . materialism . then we have t militarism,- and in the American world the . : word - "verboten doest not live. Junkerlsm, is anti-Christ . even though the emperor says' Me " and God. We are in : this k war until our 1 boys come . back and come back vio torious." ORIGIN OF BIG BLAZE AT ' - - - KANSAS C3TX: UNDETERMINED Officials ' Incline ' Toward. , the i Iacea- ' : diary Theory. Kansas City, ; Mo., April - 5. Officials investigating the fire which last! night devastated three blocks in a wholesale and manufacturing district causing a property loss estimated -at $2,500,000, 1 United States marine training camp lo were still unable tonight to fix the orl-.'.cated: here,' thus doing away with the Bin-', :..!-.'J'ur , ' ' .. ! ' : . Officials w;ere 'more strongly inclined toward the ihcendiary theory than they were earlier in 'the day as a result, It was said, of statements obtained t from persons who witnessed -the flrein Its early stages .and ' who declared the Ab ernathy Furniture Company's building whore ; the fire originated.' ' :apparently was ablaze, on , all, sides within a few minutes. -It also was pointed out that other structures; some distance away burst ino flames'almost simultaneously. " -' " -, . f 5 i S v Guilford Loat to Trlntty. j ; Durham, April .gjrBaseball; Guilford College 0;.:Trlnit7.College.3 . 3-1 E NAVAL FORGE IS LANDED AT VLADIVOSTOK Action Follows the Killing by Rus sians of One Japanese and : Wounding of Two FORCE LANDED IS SMALL Not Regarded as Being Connected ; in Any Way With Inter- ; mention in Siberia0 Washington, April . 5. Landing ; of Japanese naval forces at Vladivostok to protect life and property was re potted, to. the . stats ;deparment today by the American consul there. The action followed an -attack on a Japanese office by five armed Russians who,' bejng' refused money,, killed one Japanese and. wounded two others. The force landed, was said to be small and only sufficient to prevent . further dis orders. 1 y It, .-was learned officially, that ' the American government attaches no po litical ' significance to this incident In other - words, it is not regarded as be ing .connected In &ny wajr with the much discussed possibility of Japanese intervention In .Siberia.' The landing party was from a Japanese cruiser sta tioned at Vladivostok. - i -Since the return. to Japan, from Rus-; sla of Baron Uchida, the Japanese min ister, to Petrograd, .the Japanese prime. minister has indicated clearly that Ja- pan does not v intend at "present at least to - enter Siberia . in a . military, y way wlhout xef erejco -to.thie) -wishes-ofWthe Russian govrnment .--Unless some ex treme emergency should arise. It has been assumed . here that such an emer gency would ; be organization . of the German military prisoners in Siberia into ah armed force designed'to seize control of the countrjr",,,br the taking possession by? factions- hostile to the entente, allies ' of the ' great quanity of mimary,- stores accumulated, at Vladivostok.':'-- :-s i. f, i' - Neither of these contingencies has arisen at Vladivostok and the state de partment's information indicates that the trouble at that port is purely local and such as might be expected to oc cur at. any point where disorderly ele ments were gathered "without any Strong 'local authority in' controls" ' -. Whil the Bolshevik element predom Uiates 'at ' the poJUit never has been able to assert Its authority and pre serve order. Consequently the attack upon the Japanese is regardd as indi- -A caUhg tbe existence of such a- situa- of ' international .law, would not only warrant but demand the active inter-, ventloh : of any foreign naval force which might be present. - VLADIVOSTOK SITUATION IS : GRADUALLY BECOMING WORSE - Tokio, . Saturday, March 30. (By The Associated Press). At the Japa nese . foreign office , today it was said that no confirmation bad been receiv ed of the statement published by the Nichi Niohi. that the situation at Vlad-, ivpstok, while - not .. Immediately criti cal was, becoming worse. Telegrapho comniunicatidn with the Russian sea port has been virtually suspended. - The Nichi Nichi claims that the Bol shevlkl. authorities have . occupied the government offices and banks -at Vladlyostok. , The entente powers, it adds, have . acce'pted 2the i promise of the : Bolsheviki to . protect life and property especially the immense supplies-destined for; the Russian army. Private advices received kllege . that anarchy is one the increase through out Russia. - The ' propertied classes are; said to be gradually losing their rights and their property is - .. being confiscated.. Masters -are said -to - be becoming servants , and the - servants are masters.; Former nobles and gov ernment officials . are reported to : be cleaning the streets of. Petrograd and other cities in order to ; obtain bread. . .'M. Schtchekine, former councillor of the Russiah embassy at Tokio who was appointed minister at 7 Teheran, J- Persia, by ; M. Kerensky, when prein, ier, was thrown ; from the train : by Bolshlviki troops at - Baku while on his way to 'his' new post. The minis ter lost, all his effects. .TRAINING NON-OOMS Marine Scaool Elstablisaetl for Promln , ' i ' -lag Tomig Men. - . Paris Island,- S. C, April 5. A school for the exclusive purpose of thoroughly training alj - enlisted , men who appear to have the making of non-commissioned off leers -has been established at the old styje method of indlscrlminaely ap pointing .men from the rangs jui ser geants and corporals. ".' ' ' - CV. - "The school Is under the direct super vision "isf; a; sergeant major: and the course. covers a period of eight weeks. The future "non-coms" are put through 'a 'training consisting of all of the Piatest and 4 most modern bayonet drills, trench work, the handling of companies and other features said to be almost as rigorous as tnat given, to the embryo; officers at . the commissioned officers .'tTa3ning':fcchool V:i 'The school .has been a - marked suc cess .in .developing officers In the ranks. I. declare marine corps officials. ' -. . JAPANES Seven Concrete Be Built At Total Cost Of About Six Million Dollars Three of the Vessels Will be of 3,500 Tons and Four of 7,500 Tons Each and Will be Used as Oil Carriers Plans for the Yard , . Are Now Being Prepared and as Soon as Completed Construction WiU Commence. PLANT WILL COST $1,000,600 There Will be a Payroll During Construction of the Ships of Some thing Like $3,000,000 Shipping Board Assured Thai No Exorbitant Prices Will be Charged for the Site. . i . Godwin Announces Hurley's Decision. Washington, April 5. Growing need for oil carriers caused; ihe shipping board to decide today to begin as soon as possible the con struction of a fleet of steel barges, ocean-going tugs and concrete tank steamers to replace the large number of tankers taken from the Mexi can coastwise service for trans-Atlantic trade. It is estimated that 75 additional steamers are required. ' i 1 . - L " , Seven of the concrete ships will be built at Wilmington, N." C.,' Chairman Hurley announced today, .the board having selected Wil mington as the site, of a new yard in the south. Three of these ships will be of 3,500 tons and four of 7,500 tons. ' - ; ' : ; The Emergency Fleet Corporation will build the new yard, which' has three ways.' ' The Shipping Board is so well pleased with a concrete- ship just built f or it on the Pacific coast that it intends to enlarge considerably; he concrete hip building ; program. Concrete ships can be' built in less tjme than can wood or steel vessels. y ' f ' X Washington Dl .p.i AprU 5. -Representative Godwin held a conference this morning with the U.- S. shipping board and 'immediately gave iout the following-statement! , '-'(vT: A' ; "' - I - ' - .-' ; ' t The': gpYernie.-wlil build a shipyard at Wilmington. Plans are now being preparedjfor that purpose and as-soon as completed the construction ol the; yard will begin. The construction work will cost 'about Jl.000,000- The shipping board "expressed the hope that Wilmingtpn would be reasonable In the purchase ol ! a sTte -and they, were assured no exhorbltant prices would bt charged. - ' ' - - . : ' : " '..'..:.-' The government will construct seven concrete ships, the first three ol 3f500 tons each and the pother four'7,500 tons each. The cost to construct all these will be1 about $6,000,000. There will ba a payroll during the construction 1 of these. seven ships of-something like $3,000,000. The shipyard will. be per-, manent and owned by the government.' . ' ' 1 '-x: WILM1NG TONIANS WILL BE HIGHLY PLEASED BY NEWS . The f oregoingLvdIspatches , will prove to be about; the most .welcome news Wilmingtonlans have ever Received. The" news will .have, the immediate effect of banishing, doubt and pessi mism and of putting new ljfe into the business of the " port Citizens who said yesterday the news ' was too good to be true" and will admit that a considerable - shipyard . is an assured fact and that the - era of sacred hope and uncertainty is over.' . The city; for many months has put forth strenuous efforts to secure some recognition from 'ithe government Citizens have worked hard and. un ceasingly to Influence; the government to recognize1 the port in some way. The efforts "to obtain '. some share in the war preparations of the -nation date back a long time.- -There have been days. when prospects were bright and ' others when the- outlook was gloomy. The few - who labored on and refused to give up, declaring, that Wilmington was bpuna "to- score some time,' have seen their"prophecies come true and their predictions; verified. The city ( has : been a - great sufferer because of '"war conditions, the 3 out break of ; hostilities', followed by the submarine .campaign, r pratlcally de stroyed the. "port's : chief commerce that of exporting ' cotton. Shipping troubles have ployed havoc with oth er large " industries . ..here; Many peo ple 'have left the city during the war' and gone to those , towns where war industries are located and where at tractive - wages -are paid for labor. Meanwhile Wilmington' -- lias existed on her nerve and bravely, insisted -on business as usual. Every big calll from .the ' goYernmeht" for support has been met with heroic effort to respond. No - citizenship has over tried harder to keep tho wheels moving. ' V" ' "A Large"; Slxed Smile. Wlth the prospect of . millions being expended here by the- . government. there will, be a smile from . one - end of town to the other. "From the hum blest citizen '.to -the"; rlohest there has beenithe greatest Interest, in the pro babilities of the- port getting recog nition, and now. that this . has come, and- along with It a- great undertak ing,., the "prospects ; of.; large employ ment for laborers, and best, of all, the possibility of .a train of developments which- the kshlpyar. maKea -possible, the r whole' , community will acqu ire more "pep"! and a - keener,: zest tor get tlng up and going' forward. The concrete . ship -industry is -. so new that there is : Uttle local data to Ships Will be had on. what th building of seven, large ships means. One of the con crete ship : builders ho was here re cently said that about 500 men Would be required to build one of the medi um sized vessels. That being - true, " it would appear that - hundreds of j workmen will be: needed. -.1 There was little to be learned yes terday as to Bites. The comments one: heard on the 'streets indicated " that people generally : wanted 'to see avail able sites put forward in a manner that would, hasten and not retard the development. .It Is -known, that the government has ' repeatedly Inspected all the possible sites along the river and there is ho doubt that a satisfac tory place will 'be quickly secured. With the r coming of hundreds of workmen, it will be of little trouble to house them. The depression incident to the war has - emptied not - a few houses of people whoj: have gone to ' war industry communities, and in this respect 'the city is probably -better off than any other port on the coast.' For once such a condition has' proved an aeset, for It " Is - extremely probable that housing conditions went far to ward influencing 'the " shipping .board. ' Speculation' on the further develop ments, that may come as. a result of the . shipbuilding .program include al most certain improvement of the riv er channel, which at this time is de clared to be .greatly, in need- of at tention.' River improvement is' a sub ject dear to the heart of the city and if the shipyard also means a- deepen? ing of the channel. It ; will prove"; a double blessing.. ', ; " The value of" having been - selected by the shipping, board is regarded as inestimable. ; Wilmington, as a re sult of the energy of the citizens, has been given rather more publicity and attention during the past six. months than, the -city ever enjoyed before. The placing of an industrial -agent in Washington" by "a few publlc-splrit- ed men, ' served . to attract attention and to keep the city's interests in the limelight A. great many 'friends pf the city throughout the, state, includ ing the traveling men's organizations and the 'chambers ; of ' commerce In state towns; the state's' delegation In Washington, and others have . done much for the city.: during this ' time. There will be a very general feeling of gratitude to' all who had a hand In getting government attention focus ed on Wilmington, 'especially those citizens who ' have been' "perniciously persistent ,lh ' singing . Wilmington's' advantages in the ears - of .the gentle men who, -direct 'the; destinies ot the Shipping board. t - - " ' , . '; ' '.' t- - " ' i iv-ontmuea on Page Ten.)
Wilmington Morning Star (Wilmington, N.C.)
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April 6, 1918, edition 1
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