Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-08-25
America Drops
Behind on Sea.

6e01uQ Oh 0edS. their internal re-
sources that when the change from sails
TO steam began to take place we did not
keen the pace. That was partly due. of
course. to the destruction Of shipping
during the civil war. but more directly to
the other cause.
For the last half century the upbuild-
ing of an American merchant marine mas
been only an academic question until the
il lis true but they have bought them
where they could get them cheapest, and
therefore they have sailed them. per-
force, under foreign flags. Under the
new law such ships are now entering
our registry and the Stars and Stripes
vii, he seen again in the long ocean
lanes.
To have plenty Of ships will help, of
course, but 1t will not solve all our
problems It will not bring US chemicals
from Germany if Germany remains bot
tied UP. 1t will take our wheat to nun
cry nations in Europe. and 1t Will take
our cotton to such cotton mills as are not
closed by the war.
But American ships will not bring us
the South American trade We VIII nave
to get the business first, and then have
the ships ready to transport the goods
we have sold. The fact of having the
ships in reserve. however. will be
prime factor in effecting the sales pro-
viding we will make what the South
Americans want to buy and ship 1t to
them so packed that 1t will survive the
journey.
In the year 1913 the value of the goods
exported from the United States amount
ed to s., 43O, 100000. OF this about $3'5.-
way or other land carriage. OF the re-
mainder American ships carried abroad
exports worth $1s5. ZOO. 900. while foreign
vessels carried no less than $l,s4s, 1851 600:
In other words. foreign vessels carried
ten times as much as our own.
In the same year goods imported into
the United States were valued at $1.S15,-
OOO, 600. The railroads brought in of this
S1s5, 100000. OF the remainder our
American ships carried $195.OW.OOO. while
than seven times as much-nearly
81, 500. OOO, 900.
When the war came all shipping lines
were paralyzed. Great Britain leads all
the world in
War Paralyzes All its merchant
the Shipping Lines. Germany fol-
lows. Both were involved France, Aus
tria, Russia and Belgium also are mari
time nations. All were involved. This
left free only the Norwesians and the
Dutch. but their home ports were in the
danger zone Of the struggle Italy still
kept up her neutral position, but was
recognized to be in danger from the
beginning. In the orient only Japan mas
a considerable foreign shipping service,
and it was bound to be involved by rea-
son of its treaty of alliance with Great
Britain.
It was very soon announced that Brit
ish ships were again free to sail the
Atlantic, but the risks were SO great
that it was necessary for the govern
ment to insure the cargoes, else no
freight would be Forthcoming. Even
then no merchandise could be quite safe
while a German navy remained in
being"
That ship flies the flag of neutral
nation does not mean that she can do
as she pleases and go where she pleases
and carry what she pleases during the
war.
Certain things are contraband of war
by natHre, and other things are condi-
tionally SO. Neutral ships may not carry
contraband cargoes to the port Of war
ring nation. And sometimes the ques-
ton "Whct is ccntraband?''. is not an.