Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-04-16
How War in Europe May Benefit Us.

How WARM Europe May Benefit Us.
1t has been suggested that if war is de-
clared between England and Russia, the
President ought to call an extra session
of Congress for the purpose Of so chang
ing our navigation laws as to permit for
elm built vessels TO carry our flag. only
American built vessels can now
carry the American flag, and II
there should be war between Eng
land and Russia it would be imnossi-
bic for this country to do much more OF
the carrying trade of the world than 1t
does now, because it hasn't the vessels,
and could not build them in time to take
advantage of the splendid opportunity
that would be offered to recover the posi-
tom it occupied on the sea before the civil
war.
England now does very large part OF
the carrying trade Of the world, but # she
became engaged in a war with Russia
cargoes covered by her hag would be sub
iected to great risks. Russian cruisers
would scour the seas in search Of vessels
carrying the British flag. English cruis-
ers would prey upon Russian commerce
and it would be dangerous for merchant
vessels flying the flag OF either nation to
venture upon the ocean. The insurance
on cargoes and vessels carrying the hag
Of either nation would be greatly increased
and would be heavy burden to commerce.
This nation being neutral, vessels carry
ing its flag would not, Of course, be mo-
Tested If our merchants had the ships,
therefore, they could very quickly get
control of very large part of the carry
ing trade. The only way to yet the ships
is to buy them, but they cannot be bought
and sailed under the American nag as
long as our navigation laws remain as
they are.
1t is estimated that at the present time
the number of seagoing merchant yes
sells belonging to all nations is about
5000, the tonnage of which is In the
neighborhood of q, 900, 600 tons. Under the
English flag there are y, 800 vessels having
a tonnage of 100000 tons. This coun-
try has 6 900 vessels, the tonnage Of which
is $4,000 tons. Russia has only 1900
vessels, whose aggregate tonnage is not
more than 100000 tons. These figures
show how immensely superior England is
in ocean-going merchant vessels. She
owns about one-halt Of the sea-going
ocean fleet of the entire world, and, Of
course, does pretty nearly one-half of the
carrying trade of the world.
This country does not do very much of
its own foreign carrying trade. Before
the civil war it did about twO-thirds Of it ;
now it does only about one-siXth of it.
This is certainly not at all flattering to a
nation that is as progressive, as energetic
and as rich as this is. If it had neither
the facilities nor the materials for build
ing ships cheaply and adyantageously its
inieriorty to England as a ship-owning
nation would not be at all surprising; but,
as a matter Of fact, less than a quarter
Of a century ago it was the rival of Eng
land on the ocean.
There is no doubt that if England and
Russia engage in war and American
citizens are permitted to buy ships where
ever hey can buy them the cheapest, and
sail them under the American flag, this
country, if the war should not terminate
too quickly, would again contest with
England for supremacy on the ocean.