The Washington times., 1908-12-10
CONGRESS ASKED
FOR TRANSPORTS
Another Problem Presented
in Annual Report of Gen
eral AleShire.

General Aleshires quartermaSter gen
eral OF the army. proposes another prob
lem for the consideration of Congress
in his report published today, arising
from the lack OF American ships to
transpor: troops and supplies in case of
war.
The cOuntry's lack of vessels suit
able TO meet the army's need of trans
ports for a military expedition of any
magnitude, which would necessitate a
movement of troops oversee, is Of pub
lie knowledge" the report says. "As It
would fan upon this department to ind
a way 10 meet a demand for such a
movement, any plan that promises to
encourage the building Of vessels suit
able Tor transports is Of interest to it
The opinion has already been express d
tquartermaster generals annual report
Tor 1896, page 2S) that this department
might advantageously be given author
1ty OF law, together with an adequate
appropriation, to take options for the
charter o. American vessels suitable for
transports, paying therefor a reasonable
called into service, and giving the de
partmeat first right to the services OF
such vessels when needed.
Would Be Available
1T was then and still is the opinion
that this would encourage the building
Of ships adapted &c transport uses and
place this department ia position 20
command their services. The law could
prescribe in what trade these vessels
should be engaged in order 10 promote
our trade with foreign countries, and
whether the rate to be paid for options
should be a fixed sum per month, or
year. a rate PertOn. or soem other OF
the different plains considered in con
nectiou with the encouragement of
American shipping.
The Secretary Of War should be en-
powered TO require that vessels TO be
built with the object OF being so option
ally chartered to the Government
should comply with certain requirements
IN the way of construction, speed, equip
ment. etc, TO render them readily CON
vertible into transports. This office has
these requirements well worked out, and
regulations thereon could be established
with practically no delay.
Another palm has been suggested
whereby the Government would build
transport vessels 10 such number as
would insure transportation being avail
able for a reasonably large expedition
AIRY force and charter them for foreign
trade under proper conditions as 10
payments, field of operations and ma
1ionality of crews That plan could also
with little delay. were IL authorized by
law and funds appropriated.
Would Be Welcome.
Any plan of encouragement TO Amer
lean shipping which viii place within
reach Of the department suitable YES
sels for transport duty in military oper-
ations involving oversee. movements
VII be viewed with satisfaction and
diminish the existing feeling of unpre-
paredness- An excellent discussion Of
the war need Of transport vessels viii
be found in the report published in
Senate document No 225, SiXtieth Con
gresS, first session. beginning on page
Al. TO which attention is invited -
During the time Of peace the trans
portatiOn Of supplies and troops is large.
During the past years they carried 1929
passengers, 1873 animals, 1139S7 tons Of
eight, 1,030,241 feet Of lumber, 4T7,OS
ounds of mail and $3I.797,S45 in cur
TenCy-