Only Swift never imagined, and Gulliver never saw, presses and ladles and chains and cranes like these, but I have seen them, and there is no imagination in my study of the press or the ladle. A press so powerful it will slowly bend the thickest plate. A ladle so big the men were lost in it. [Illustration] V BUILDING THE BATTLE SHIP Inside the huge shed where she was built and launched she lay getting her finishing touches--or rather those that could be given her, for her masts were too big to finish, her turrets were being fitted and her turbines put in--and soon she would begin her life of terror and horror. [Illustration] VI MAKING A TURBINE ENGINE This is the finest shop, in which the most impressive work of modern times is done and it is “somewhere in America”; and as I worked away after five, one man said--“Wot’s yer hours, mate?” [Illustration] VII MAKING PROPELLER BLADES Blue in the shadows and such blue--gold in the lights and such gold--were those blades--in this great shop--and as I worked the engine steamed in and carried one of the propellers off, to fit in the ship, standing in the dock just outside. [Illustration] VIII THE PROW “Very pretty drawing,” said the officer when I showed him this leering, staring, slobbering monster, the spirit of war, a creation of our time and our country. It is fascinating but intolerable. [Illustration] IX READY TO START Dignified, solemn, immense she stood, held to the long dock by the great cables; and the great cranes swung great carloads of war work aboard her, as fast as the engines could bring them. On land she was guarded by marines. In the air the Planes were guarding her. [Illustration] X THE COLLIER This is a Freighter and Collier and the huge erections on its decks are cranes and derricks, by which other ships are coaled and loaded at sea. The system is not new, but I imagine many landsmen, like myself, till I drew it, had never seen such a creature. [Illustration] XI BUILDING SUBMARINE CHASERS All round the big ship the little boats gathered--being built out of doors, anywhere near the water, into which the crane swings them as soon as they are ready. It is like this they are being built all over the country. [Illustration] 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. [Illustration] XIII BUILDING DESTROYERS. NO. TWO