The Washington times., 1916-03-02
APPEALS FOR U. S.
j MERCHANT MARINE
Bernard NadaI Baker Presents
Plan For Restoration Of
America as Sea Power. !

Bernard Nadal Baker. Of Baltimore.
formerly president OF the Atlantic
Transport Line. which was absorbed by
the International Mercantile Marine. 10
the author Of an interest-compellins
book. entitled Ships" which has, just
come from tho presses of the John
Murphy Company. of Baltimore.
Mr.. Baker was assisted in the prepa-
ration OF the work by J. Frederick Es-
sary. q weli-known Washington corre-
spondent.
This admirable book II an appeal for
the release of the United States from
commercial bondage by enabling II to
reassume It's former position as a sea
power. writing from forty years. ex-
perience in : the shipping business. Mr.
Baker contributes a valuable addition
70 the literature on the subject of ship
PING.
Describes Blunders.
He describes with fine discrimination
the countrys biunders In the past. ana
presents a plan for the reconstruction
OF Americas trans-oceanic trade fleets
that will restore the United States TO
the place in the sun to which the nation
IL entitled by it's commerce. wealth and
world influence.
Mr.. Baker assumes that the issue
cannot be longer avoided, and that the
conditions are most favorable now for
the re-establlshment Of our merchant
marine on q sound and permanent
basis. Lt 49,
The total steam tonnage of the United
States at the present time is second
only to that OF Great Britain. but the
bulk OF II 10 engaged In only lake and
coastal trade. The vital difference II
that the bulk OF the ships of other
countries IL employed In the foreign
trade.
Need Merchant Marine.
The war. says the author. has con-
WINGED Americans that they cannot do
without q merchant marine, as they
thought they could. and that mo great
people ever paid SO high a price for n
deIusion."
For ten years prior to the war the
Of 800. 90 annually to the earnings
OF foreign steamship companies.
Mr.. Baker declares the rebate policy
~ no longer a success. and that rigid
navigation laws make 1t impossible to
meet the competition OF England. ia
pan. Germany, France, Scandinavia.
and Holland. He describes the United
States as being without a definite
policy regarding foreign commerce. u.
A shortage OF tonnage as result
of the war he regards as inevitable, and
believes that, together with the heavier
taxation of shipping by the belligerent
countries, affords an exceptional oppor-
tunity to America. He recommends the
creation Of shipping board. clothed
with adequate authority to meet every
issue affecting shipping.
No Other Way.
There is no other possible way. he de-
clares. that the Government can rem
! der assistance to the industry He sug-
gestB the shipping board buy a fleet
and charter .or lease ships. This board
Ishpuld have at its disposal. he says, not
He's than TO.0o0,0o0. which would be suf-
lhfient to purchase forty or fifty ves-
Bels with gross tonnage of 100000 tons.
The money could be obtained, he states
from the sale OF Panama canal bonds.
! Mr.. Baker believes that any program
for an American merchant marine
should include a plan for the creation
tof o naval reserve corps. "a merchant
marine" he says, ~is more necessary to
the armed forces OF our country than II
is TO the trade expansion OF the nation. y