THE NEW SHIPS

The first of the steel cargo ships built by the Government, since the declaration of war, to increase the available tonnage, will be launched in Seattle next Saturday. It has taken only four months to construct her, and already a large number of standardized sister ships are in various stages of completion. Whatever delay there may be in turning out cargo ships is not due to lack of workers or supplies, but to the lack of those enormous plants which are necessary for the construction of even a relatively small vessel. Lloyd George has again urged us to increase our shipbuilding to the maximum efficiency, not only to make good the losses due to the submarines, but also to manage the transportation of a greater army than we had planned. It is pleasing to us to note that in spite of the unfortunate Goethals-Denman controversy, the shipbuilding program did not cease. By means of a unified and efficient Shipping Board, the results we attain will be surprising to our allies and disconcerting to our enemies. The carrying out of this program is the necessary forerunner of any success at arms.