Joseph Pennell's Pictures of War Work in America / Reproductions of a series of lithographs of munition works made by him with the permission and authority of the United States government, with notes and an introduction by the artist

by Joseph Pennell

XII
BUILDING DESTROYERS. NO. ONE

AMID the great ways, the little destroyers are built. While the work of building is going on, there seem to be no workmen about—though the noise they make is terrible. The various parts of the ships lie about apparently in confusion, but the crane knows what it wants and where to find it, and picks it up and carries it to its proper place. It is only when the men knock off that you see what an army is engaged in shipbuilding. And it was too funny to be told as I went about—I must not smoke—yet hundreds of drills and riveters were shedding showers of sparks and there is nothing but iron to be seen.

XIII
BUILDING DESTROYERS. NO. TWO

HOW the cranes minister to the ships, carrying them the things they want, lowering them gently into the places where they belong and then hovering over the vessels they are building to see that everything is in its proper place—the cranes do it all—the men who run them are mere details.