The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-04-06
THE MERCHANT MARINE
OF TWO GREAT NATIONS
Germany Far Ahead Of the
United States.
VIEWS or {. T. CHAMBERLAIN
Only Hope for American Ocean Garry
ing Trade Is From Liberal SUB
sidy Grants by Congress.

Whatever justice there may hav,
been in Admiral Dewey's comparison he.
tween the German navy and that OF the
United States, a comparison of the rsr.
chant marines o. the two countrfe.
shows the Germans far in the lead. E
7, chamberlain Commissioner Of the
Bureau Of Navigation. under whose su-
Pervision the entire shipping OF the
United States comes, said IN regard 10
this matter.
The German merchant marine is
second only TO one. that Of The British
empire, which handles more than half
Of he marine carrying trade OF the
world. The Germans are constantly in
creasiug their marine service. and randi
~ Tho whole nation IS lending its
support and the Kaiser is encouraging
all ventures on the sea with a generous
hand. When the Deutschland made her
record run across the Atlantic, the
Kaiser telegraphed his concentrations.
and highly CompIimented the captain for
MS skill and the company for its energy.
Slow Increase Here.
This interest in their merchant marine
Is sadly wanting on the part Of Ameri-
cans While American shipping is in
creasing, The rate Of increase is so slow,
compared 10 that OF other countries
that il is really going backward instead
Of forward. The situation in nut
shell IS this The Germans. and also
other foreign nations. can build ships
cheaper and run them at less expense
than the Americans and until the shin
builders and carriers of this country re-
ceive ENCOURAGEMENT from the Govern
ment in the form Of substantial sub
sides, ii is safe to say the American
merchant marine viii continue to lose
ground in the competition for the
worlds carrying trade on the sea The
last ship subsidy bill passed the Senate.
bur WAS voted down in the House. It
remains to see what future Congresses
viii do
The German merchant marine docs
half of the carrying trade OF the German
empire and a large share Of that of
other countries, especially Of the United
States. The United States merchant
marine on the other hand, does only
about 10 per cent Of the American trade.
At present the Germans have finer
ocean steamers and many more of them.
American Sailors the Best.
IN the matter Of personnel. the
American merchant marine can boast OF
as fine seamen as there are in the world. /
The American sailor is perhaps more |
intelligent than the German. and can be I.
depended upon 10 take the initiative in .
more a machine obeying orders He :
does what he is told and does it we'll /
IN some ways this IS an advantage. /
More than half Of the sailors serving on
American merchantmen are foreigners.
This is due in great part to the opening
up Of the interior Of the United States.
the possibilities offered for making an
easier and a better living on shore than
on the sea. Many Of the New England
ers who would in former years have fol-
lowed the sea as a livelihood go West
and settle on Government land The
pay on the American merchant lines is
higher than that on foreign lines and
there are many deserters from foreign
ships in the crews Of American vessels.
Shipping on the Lakes.
a third OF the American shipping
.rsde is 20 be found on the Great Lakes.
Here We reign supreme for no foreign
7rs can reach these waters, except the
Canadians. and they have not yet become
formidable rivals.
Statistics which have recently been
show that American shipbuild-
ng fer the past nine months is not so
.reat as II was for the corresponding
,eTioc last year Increased activity is
expected during the next three months.
E6 we hope that al the close of the q
seal year the shipbuilding industry
-in at least have cqualed It's record Of
sst year" ;
Eavies Of the World,
Captain sigsbee, chief Of the Naval Ia D
Office. has prepared a series :
tabular statements to show the com .
aratige strength Of the principal navles ?
. the words.
Combining the list Of vessels built ,
t5h that os vessels authorized OF h
liIdlng. the result shows that in battle ;,
hips, coast defense ironcIads and ar ?
.ored cruisers the nations stand as fol- q
.wz: L.,
Total Total :
Nation number tonnage. y
England .-...,.......-.sz 1923. $50 J
france 10 6l6.b20 "
United States -.---.---zG z96, ia -
Germany -...-...-..--55 $50 0I8 II