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Show QUEST FOB II FOB O.S. FLEET Recruiting for Merchant Marine to Continue Without Let-up. WASHINGTON, Nov. 12. Orders to rush recruiting of men for the crews of merchant ships were sent today to shipping ship-ping board agents in all parts of the countrj'. "We shall want thousands of men for our fleets." Chairman Hurley said. "Our recruiting service and training ships will keep right on preparing men for jobs on merchant ships. "The service is training at present 4000 apprentices a month, and we are planning to increase its output. The shipping board will continue until further notice to accept men between IS and 35, Inclusive, for training. We want to build up an all-American all-American personnel for the great mer chant marine." Shipyards also will continue their work with unabated energy, except for the curtailment cur-tailment of overtime and Sunday work, the chairman said. There now are under construction in the United States for the board 724 ships, aggregating 3,500,000 deadweight tons. Four hundred of these are steel or concrete and the others wood. In addition, practically all the yards have contracts carrying them into the fall of 1919, and the board has under consideration considera-tion a further program for construction in 1920. Opportunity for private construction of wooden ships will now be given, Mr. Hurley Hur-ley said. Wherever there is an idle way In a wooden sibpyard, private Interests will be permitted to contract for construction of wooden craft. Production of steel ships, however, will be continued in the service of the board. |