The Government; the First Lord continued, had now given priority
to shipbuilding. " We must lay our plans for a long war," and make up the arrears in the shipyards, which were neglected while the armies were being, raised and equipped. Four new national shipyards were being constructed. A supply of steel was assured. Labour, he felt certain, would be forthcoming when it was wanted. In the first nine months of this year the output of merchant tonnage was more than double that of the same period last year. A million tons of standard ships had been ordered, and half of that tonnage was under construction. At the same time naval shipbuilding had been greatly increased and expedited, and during the last year the output had been three or four times as great as it was before the-war. It was hoped that all merchantmen would soon be effectively armed. Sir Eric Geddes'', plain and frank statement suggested that the Admiralty, the shipbuilders, and the shipyard workers wore labouring diligently on a well- conceived plan for frustrating the enemy's design.
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