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Show 'SHIPPING BOARD SPEEDPRUSED New Vessels Turned tide of War, Hurley Tells House Committee WASHINGTON. Feb. 12. Both the i allies and the Germans werr- astounded astound-ed at the rapidity with which the shipping board conetructe.i ships afier ' the United Suites entered the war. a house investigating coninilt.ee was informed in-formed today by K. N. Hurley of Chi - ago, chairman of the board from I July. H IT, to the summer of 1 ' I 9 I Hurt government officials in Knc-lland. Knc-lland. Franoe and Italy told him after the armistice, be .-aid. that they were highh pleased at the achievements of the board. He learned also, he said (that the Germans, too, had been amazed amaz-ed at th- board's program MISTAKES ADMITTED He discussed the favorable comment com-ment he had heard abroad after pouching on criticisms In Ihls country coun-try Admitting mistakes had been I made, he said that wa.-s Inevitable BinCs It was pecessary to create a mammoth organization quickly to turn out ships "We delivered the ships." he declared declar-ed That s what we were supiKsed to do." Shipping board officers profited by ther mistakes and took pains not to repeat them, the witness said, adding that the countr could lew with pride ibe hoard's accomplishments. iThe snip's it put into use. he declared, 'helped turn the tide of the war-INFECT war-INFECT ON M il tfS .Mr Hurley paid tribute to the men associated With him, especially Chas M. Schwab, who. he said, had been i drafted to take chargeSof construction I when satisfactory progress was not be-ling be-ling made At the peace conference.1 I Mr Hurley continued. Clemenceaul told him that this appointment had, frighten. id the Germans, heartened the French and enthused the Hrltlsh. He expressed optimism over the future fu-ture of the American merchant marine, ma-rine, but said too many ship... rnigh' prove a liability in case of insufficient cargoes. Junking of the government's wooden wood-en ships was favored by Mr. Hurley, who said the vessels were no longer of any use of practical value. |