---
title: Our Country Needs Ships
url: https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/our-country-needs-ships-shipping-board-1918/
description: A vignette of shipyard cranes, slipway scaffolding and a large American flag sits above red and black type asking shipyard workers to do 'a better day's
section: Collection
---

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3. Our Country Needs Ships

[![Our Country Needs Ships, 1918 US poster: A vignette of shipyard cranes, slipway scaffolding and a large American flag sits](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/our-country-needs-ships-shipping-board-1918.jpg)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/our-country-needs-ships-shipping-board-1918.jpg)

# Our Country Needs Ships

A vignette of shipyard cranes, slipway scaffolding and a large American flag sits above red and black type asking shipyard workers to do 'a better day's work every day'. The text ties the pace of ship completion to each worker's effort and ends 'Be True to the Boys Who Are Giving Their Lives for You'. The tell: the flag and the soldiers 'Over There' are made the measure of ordinary daily output, with loyalty to the troops as the lever.

## Propaganda techniques used in this poster

[Transfer](https://propagandaarchive.org/techniques/transfer/) [Glittering generalities](https://propagandaarchive.org/techniques/glittering-generalities/)

## Text on the object

Original (English) · read from the image, not independently checked

```
OUR COUNTRY NEEDS SHIPS

to carry our boys "Over There" and keep them well supplied with Food, Clothing and the Munitions of War.

The product made in this plant is used for building ships. The ships can be completed only as fast as the material and equipment for each ship arrives at the shipyard.

If every man does a better day's work every day, the ships can be built faster.

BE TRUE TO THE BOYS WHO ARE GIVING THEIR LIVES FOR YOU

UNITED STATES SHIPPING BOARD EMERGENCY FLEET CORPORATION
ISSUED BY PUBLICATIONS SECTION, PHILADELPHIA

[credit line under the picture: THOMSEN-ELLIS CO. BALTIMORE · NEW YORK]
[flag in the picture: U.S. SHIPPING BOARD, partly shown]
```

[← Our Boys Need the Makins on Their Way "Over There": An Army Girl's Transport Tobacco Fund Does It](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/our-boys-need-the-makins-on-their-way-over-there-1918/) [Our Flags: Beat Germany, Support Every Flag That Opposes Prussianism →](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/our-flags-beat-germany-1918/)

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