New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-01-15
NEED OF TRANSPORTS.
General Staff Reports That More
Ships Should Be AUoiLable.

Washington, Jan. 14.-An exposition of the
weakness Of the army transport resources in
case of war is contained in a paper prepared by
the general staff and transmitted by Secretary
Taft to Senator Gallinger, chairman Of the Mer-
chant Marine Commission in charge of the ship
ping bill now pending before the Senate The
General Staff declares that even the present lin
tied military force could not be transported over
the sea unless there should be a great increase
in the number of American steamships suitable
for transport service. 1t is pointed out that for
eign shipping could not be drawn upon in time
of war, beoausa of the neutrality laws. that
under present conditions, 1.-The quick, first blow,
so very and Increasingly important. cannot be
struck at ALL incidentally the staff criticises
the conditions under which the American army
was transported to Santiago to begin the Span
ish-American War
The report says that two sizes Of merchant
steamships are desirable for transport service
ships of $500 and of $500 tons gross register
capable of a sustained sea rate of twelve knots
Steamships of $500 and of $500 tons are pre-
ferred, because at is conceded to be indtspensa-
BILE to the best results that each ship shall carry
a tactical unit of troops with it's complete equip
rnent and supplies" With the present strength
of the regular army two divisions could be made
ready TO embark in fifteen days, and twenty OF
the large and eighteen of the smaller ships,
available In fifteen DAYS would be sufficient. AS
such an expedition may be necessary from either
coast the report urges that there should be on
each side a number of suitable ships afoat AS
it is not probable that one-third of those on
either ocean could be ready in fifteen days says
the report. It follows that to provide suitable
ships for q rapid movement of two divisions from
either coast there should be not less than sixty
of the larger and ffty-four of the smaller size
ahoat in Atlantic and the same I'm Pacific waters.
The report shows that such fleet as would
be needed for an overseas expedition could be
furnished out OF the present resources of the
American merchant marine. 1t says:
The official list Of merchant vessels for 1904
shows fifty seven seagoing vessels of 1000 gross
tons and upward with an aggregate tonnage or
100000 This includes the very fast Atlantic
liners Of these ships eight substantially of
the smaller and niEe of the larger size described.
The others vary in size and proportion
There needs no argument to show that this
transport service could not be procured In hf-
teen days. 1t is doubtful whether 1t can De pro
cured at all, except by impressment and in
period of six months or more.
The report criticises the Santiago expedition.
Every American vessel that could be obtained
in the Atlantic ports in the twenty days fol-
lowing the declaration of war was chartered-a
feet OF thirty-stx vessels, averaging $500 tons,
only two of them over 1000 tons. The report
continues:
The official records afford ample evidence that
the safe arrival due to the good fortune of
continued fine weather A severe storm encoun-
tered would have scattered the fleet, probably
with great loss Of life and would have defeated
the object OF the expedition.
Looking to the future, the report declares
This condition cannot improve until the Amerf-
can steam seagoing merchant marine has in
creased IN tonnage to approximately two and
one-half times it's present volume by the addi
ton of ships adapted in size and designed for
quick conversion into suitable transports, and
built under conditions which make their volun-
tary surrender to the United States on demand
a. foregone conclusion.
This report Will be presented to the Senate
tomorrow by Senator Gallinger. who will in
form the War Department that ships of the size
and speed described most desirable for trans
ports are also ships of the size and speed re-
quired for several of the most important mail
lines provided for in the bill of the Merchant
Marine Commission, which stipulates that ships
receiving subventions from the government shall
be held at the disposal of the government in
time of war.