The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1916-01-05
OUR navy GR0lHfIAd
AMERICAN MERCHANT MARINE
SECOND IN WORLD In 1915
GERMAN FLEET TIED UP

tdCtS anu FlSUreS O1Seu OGC In Gov :
ernment Report Shows Exact Num-
Der of Ships of 5000 Tons and
Over Now Under the American
Flag.
Changes in American merchant
shipping during the first year of the
war in Europe have had no parallel
in extent in our maritime history.
The absolute increase in the tonnage
of ships under the American flag DUR
ing that period was 460,741 tons and
has never been equaled in American
history.
During the year 100000 tons of
American shipping, formerly plying
in the domestic trade, obtained en-
ployment in the foreign trade. ih
tonnage and value the merchant ship
ping under the American flag is sur
passed only by that under the British
flag, and in tonnage it equals that
under any two foreign flags COM
bined, except the British.
The effect of the European war
and American legislation on the
American merchant marine and the
resultant unparalleled changes are
set forth in great detail and discuss
ed most Interestingly in the annual
report Of Eugene Tyler Chamberlain,
the commissioner of navigation, to
Secretary Redfeld Of the department
of commerce.
Mr.. Chamberlain asserts that the
| nearest approach to the fiscal year
1915, in the Importance of the
changes in American merchant ship
ping, was during 1858 and 1854,
when the Confederate cruisers were
in operation, and $4,000 tons of
American shipping were sold to for
eigners.
Pointing out that during the early
days of the war in Europe the Ameri-
can ship registry act of August 13,
1914, was passed, Commissioner
Chamberlain states that a total of
14S vessels of 523,361 gross tons
were transferred from foreign flags
to the American flag and register.
"The European war; continues
Mr.. Chamberlain in his most nlumi-
mating presentation Of the American
shipping situation, "haS created an
opportunity for the development Of
the merchant marine in foreign trade
which this generation at least is not
likely to see repeated. The most eff
fcient instrumentalities for the prose-
cution of that trade are ocean steam-
ers Of 5000 gross tons and upward.
Such ships are economical by COM
parison with smaller vessels, and it
is by means of larger steamers that
the great volume of our bulk exports
must be carried abroad
To furnish some idea Of the pro-
gress which has been made under the
ship registry act, Commissioner
Chamberlain presents tabular study
Of the number of such ocean steamers
under different flags. This table
shows that on June 80, 1915, the.
number of ocean steamers of 5000
tons, divided as to size, under the.
various flags, German steamers, of
course, having no share in the carry
ing trade, was as follows:
Over 10000 Tons-British, 40;
American, IA; French, 16; Japanese,
s.; Italian, 8; Dutch, 8; Norwegian,
2; German, a. Total, 233.
1000 to 10000 Tons-British,
$50; American, %; French 10; Jap
anese, Is; Italian, 10; Dutch, 49,
Norwegian, 5; German, II. Total,
45i.
5000 to 1000 Tons-British, $685.
American, 104; French, Sc; Japanese,
55; Italian, 35; Dutch, 81; Norwe-:
gian, 20; German, 159. Total, LOTS.
1000 to 5000 Tons-BTitish, $685.;
American, 81; French, 4S; Japanese,
Al; Italian, 50; Dutch, 80; Norwe-.
gian, At; German, $50. Total, 1865
5000 to 1000 Tons-British, L.
1872; American, 81; French, SO; Jap
anese, 106; Italian, 102; Dutch, II;
Norwegian, 40; German, 122. Total,
1851.
Grand total number Of ocean
steamers over 5000 gross tons-Brit-
ish, 3,o63; American, 315; French,
22S; japanese, 225; Italian, I'll;
Dutch, 1S9; Norwegian, 1l6; Ger.
man, 544. Total, 4,SS1.
The 544 German steamers are not
able to engage in foreign trade be-
cause of the command Of the seas by
the British. Eliminating these, the.
table shows that the American fleet
of steamers of over 5000 tons ranks
second only to that Of Great Britain,
and is about one-tenth the size Of the
British fleet of ocean steamers OF
over 5000 gross tons.
Of the 305 large ocean steamers
| which give the United States second
place in foreign trade to-day, 80 were
registered in the ten months from
September, 1914, to June, 1915,
based on the principles, Commis-
sioner Chamberlain says. which
Great Britain has followed for sew
eral generations.
Commissioner Chamberlain recon-
mends that congress enact legislation
to prevent the transfer OF any OF
these vessels back to foreign flags
after the war in Europe is over.
Congress may see fit," says the
commissioner. "to consider the ques-
ton whether the transfer Of a ship
under the American flag to ar alien
should not be conditioned upon the
approval Of the secretary of COM
merce. A general transfer back to
foreign flags Of ships which have
been admitted to American registry
under the act of 1914 is possible
under existing law after the close Of
the European war, although not
anticipated.
"To mention only orc matter tell
ing against such transfer, the enor-
nous debt burdens incurred by bell
ligerent nations must be met by YerS
heavy taxation, and shipping, OF
course, will be expected to bear its
share. Foreign taxes on shipping as
a rule are not ordinarily onerous.
Thus, in the last year OF peace, the
calendar year 1913, the Hamburg
American Steamship company paid
an income tax of only 1,15S,561@
marks on a profit from the years
operations of 5S.521,7SJ marks, its
entire property being valued at 1884,
943,555 marks.
"Tbe tayes which German ShipS