Reporter's Statement of the Case I am also attaching copy of letter which I have delivered by hand, on Saturday, in accordance with Mr. Fuller's instructions, marked "G." Full, particulars as to vessels incorporated in the specifications. Further particulars have been furnished by my letters of August 9th and August 10th, which are in Mr. Fuller's file, which he left with me on Saturday, and which I am returning under separate cover. Mr. Larkin, of the firm of Jolin, Larkin and Rathbone, attorneys for the Standard Shipbuilding Corporation, called this afternoon and commented on the fact that if they followed instructions they could not fulfill their contracts for the Navy Department, and suggested that he would very much like to have an interview with Admiral Capps to get the matter finally straightened out, as he was not entirely clear as to just how far the corporation intended to exercise their power and it was necessary for him to know it. I advised Mr. Fuller by phone, and Mr. Larkin will wire when he will be in Washington. Respectfully, IX. On August 28, 1917, the Standard Shipbuilding Corporation received from the Emergency Fleet Corporation the following letter: UNITED STATES SHIPPING BOARD, STANDARD SHIPBUILDING CORPORATION, Shooters Island, N. Y. GENTLEMEN: Referring to the general order under date of August 3, requisitioning ships over 2.500 tons deadweight capacity now under construction in your yard, under the order you are required to immediately furnish general plans and detailed specifications of the ships requisitioned, copies of contracts and supplemental agreements in relation thereto, and other particulars as to owner, date of completion, payments made to date, amounts still due, and any other information necessary to a fair and just determination of the obligations of the Emergency Fleet Corporation. In addition, please state under what flag or nationality contemplated by the original contract. Please report at once on ships nearing completion and in every case give the estimated date of completion. The corporation requests that you make for each requisitioned vessel building by you suggestions Reporter's Statement of the Case (a) For the omission of such features as have been provided for convenience in special trades; (b) For changes that will expedite placing the vessel in service; (c) For changes that will insure the safety of the vessel; (d) For omission or changes that will reduce the cost without loss of efficiency for overseas-carrying purposes. Suggestion is also invited in case the vessels are built for a special trade as to what cargoes they are suitable for and as to what modifications could be readily made so as to make the vessels suitable for general cargoes. Items marked (x) must be carried or provided on every ship. Estimates of cost of changes to be submitted through district officer. The following items may be considered in the class of omissions: 1. Cargo ports.-In case of ships where cargo ports are intended, they should be omitted if the work is not too far advanced, and shell openings plated in. If the ports are already out, same are to be permanently fastened and reinforced. 2. Special cargo-handling equipment. Where special cargo-handling equipment is contemplated, provided the work is not too far advanced, same should be eliminated. The general requirements for cargo-handling gear would be two booms to each hatch, and where a third or fourth boom has been contemplated same can be omitted, together with its gear. In the case of derrick posts, as usually fitted at No. 3 hatch provided with one boom, this arrangement should remain. 3. Excessive number of ventilators to cargo holds and 'tween decks.-Where cargo ventilators are in excess of two ventilators at each end of each hold and 'tween decks, same can be dispensed with. In cases where ventilators are extended up in the walls to clear deck load, this arrangement should remain. 4. Bulwark shutters abreast of hatches.--Where bulwark shutters are contemplated abreast of hatches, provided the work has not advanced so far as to make it less difficult to fit shutters already cut than to omit them, they should be omitted and bulwarks closed in solid. 5. Trucking door in 'tween-deck bulkheads. In all cases hinged water-tight doors in 'tween-deck bulkheads, except where necessary for cargo access, as in the case of 'tweendeck bulkheads at forward and aft end of machinery space, the door openings to be plated in solid; or if the doors are already out, same to be permanently fitted and reinforced. Reporter's Statement of the Case 6. Where oil is not carried in double bottom, the cargo ceiling on tank top, excepting under hatches, may be eliminated. For the intended overseas service, in view of the military requirements needed, it is desired for all ships-this, however, subject to the advanced stage of construction, also in cases of ships nearing completion-that the following additions be made: 1. Additional W. T. transverse bulkheads to be fitted and present intermediate W. T. bulkheads extended up to upper deck with a view to obtaining a two-compartment ship as far as practicable-that is, two compartments may be bilged or flooded and the ships remain afloat. In cases of bulk oil ships having wing trunkway at upper deck running fore and aft W. T. bulkheads to be fitted that the upper deck may become the bulkhead deck. 2. Valves or other means fitted on bilge and drainage piping for the purpose of preventing flooding communication from one compartment. The 3. It is desired to install, in cases of ships wherever practicable, subject, however, to the advanced stage of work, an ice machine and cold-storage rooms. In usual cargo ships the capacity of the ice machine would be one ton, and possibly in larger-size ships two tons capacity, and preferably of the direct expansion ammonia type. CO system and other makes of ice machines will be considered. No ice making is intended, but a scuttle butt or other means to be provided for cold drinking water for the crew, having faucet outlet in engine room and in galley or pantry. For ships where it is not practicable to install an ice machine and cold-storage system, for want of space and location, and due to the advanced stage of the work, a large ice house should be provided for a sufficient capacity for storage space based on the number of crew to be provisioned for a round trip to Europe, and for, say, five days in port. 4. U. S. Steam Board Inspection boat inspection requirements for service in the war zone to be provided with davits and other boat equipment to meet law. 5. Accommodations for gun crew to be provided for, consisting of room in vicinity of officers' quarters for lieutenant and an additional room for two gunners and further quarters for fifteen gun crew with berths, outfit, and furnishings similar to firemen's or sailors' quarters, and the gun crew quarters provided for as separate quarters for either sailors or firemen. 6. Where practicable a searchlight of 18-inch size to be installed. In cases, however, where searchlights of smaller Reporter's Statement of the Case size are already ordered or have been received, and it is not possible to obtain and substitute an 18-inch searchlight before the time of completion of the ship, the smaller-size searchlight to be installed as originally contemplated. In cases where no searchlight is contemplated, every effort on your part is to be exercised to obtain and install a searchlight. 7. U. S. inspection requirements for crew's quarters, lifesaving equipment, etc., to be arranged for in cases of ships contracted for under foreign flags, as far as it is practicable to work same out without undue interference with the advanced stages of the work. In cases where it is not practicable to effect these changes you will please advise regarding the situation. 8. In cases of ships where the work has not advanced too far to make the change impracticable, for the purpose of lessening visibility, the usual mast is to be dispensed with, twin-arrangement low derrick posts to be fitted arranged to hinge down or telescope. A light-built single mast to be fitted aft of smokestack, fitted with housing topmast which will carry the wireless. This must be for height of wireless for ships under 5,000 tons, approximately 80 feet; for ships 5,000 tons and over approximately 95 feet above the deep load line. To meet this requirement for wireless, a lightbuilt steel mast to house may be fitted on forward side of smokestack and stack reinforced. In cases with ships, where machinery is placed aft, a separate mast with housing topmast to be fitted amidships, or the housing extension provided at derrick post. 9. In cases where forced draft is fitted to the boilers the smokestack is to be as low as consistent, and further consideration is to be given to the possibility of providing a telescope smokestack, in which case a separate mast for wireless will be fitted. 10. War paint colors will be used for the final painting of the vessels, including the colors for the superstructure, stack, masts, etc., to eliminate visibility to the greatest extent possible. 11. Accommodations to be provided for the two wireless operators and in addition a separate adjoining room for operating the wireless. The corporation will supply and arrange for installing the wireless outfit. For vessels under 5,000 tons dead-weight capacity a 1 kw. radio outfit will be used, having a normal radius of 100 to 150 miles; vessels 5,000 tons and over, 2 kw. radio set having a normal radius of 300 to 400 miles. 12. Gun foundations and magazines and gear for handling same. One gun forward and one gun aft, unless other Reporter's Statement of the Case wise directed. The procedure in this matter, unless later directed, is that you address a request to the Chief of Naval Operations, Navy Department, Washington, D. C., stating the name of the ship, yard, number, size, tonnage, and location. The Chief of Naval Operations then directs the nearest board of naval officers to examine the ship and report at once as to what caliber and number of guns it can carry. Copies of this report are then forwarded to the Bureau of Ordnance, which furnishes the guns, mounts, and accessories, together with ammunition, to the Bureau of Construction and Repair, which sees that the decks are properly strengthened to withstand the shock of the gunfire, and to the Bureau of Navigation, which provides the officers, petty officers, and seamen for the armed guard. 13. Bunker oil, and store capacity for an 8,000-mile cruising radius at vessel's designated speed and load. In case of vessels originally for foreign owners, which were not intended to meet U. S. inspection requirements with respect to crew accommodations, life-saving equipment, and other matters, and which are nearing completion, and which are advanced to such an extent that it is not practical to make changes, these changes may be omitted when receiv ing advices from you as to the exact situation. In general, however, it is intended that these vessels, wherever practicable, shall pass the U. S. Steam Board Inspection rules and laws. With regard to additional transverse bulkheads and extending up present bulkheads, this also is conditioned to the stage of the work in case of each individual vessel. With regard to changing masts and fitting twin derrick posts in cases where work on originally intended steel masts has been materially advanced, or where the making of these changes may delay progress of the work, the changes will not be made. You will please give information and explain the situation with respect to each individual vessel. For the purpose that you may make arrangements and make investigations in cooperation with the corporation, the foregoing general requirements are desired, which will be supplemented in detail upon receipt of plans and specifications from you and by further communication or personal direction at your yard. Very truly yours, X. On August 16, 1917, the United States Shipping Board sent to its district officer, New York City, Eads |