The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1917-06-28
Material for Submarines.

There is one thing growing more GER
tain every day, and that is that the sub
marines will have all the available ships
of the world to work upon as material for
destruction before the other side gives
up. In short, the entire capitalist world
and the entire maritime resources of that
world are ranged against Germany in
this conflict.
The other day came the news that
Portugal had 'leased" to Great Britain
sixty of the German ships detained in
Portuguese harbors by the breaking out
of the war. There were seventy-eight
altogether, so Portugal retains sixteen
for her own use, and the cable states
that Portugal is at hard pinch for suffi-
clent shipplng-a pretty clear evidence
that the lease was, to a considerable eX-
tent, forced one.
When we consider that considerable
number of countries, such as some of the
South American republics, China and
others, have severed diplomatic relations
with Germany, or are on the point of do
ing so, it only means that the German
ships detained at their ports, and after
wards their own vessels, if needed, will
be at the orders of the capitalist world
against Germany. Probably some two
thousand ocean-going freight steamers
could be secured that way. The small
countries to which these vessels belong
would never dare to resist or disobey Or
ders to turn them over when the others
need them.
At the outbreak of the war there was
nearly so, Co., 600 tons OF ocean going YES
sells above 100 tons, of which As, 600, 900
tons were steamers. About 5000, 900
tons of these vessels have been Destroy
ed, and, perhaps 100000 tons built to
replace them. OF course not more than
half, at most, of the worlds vessels are
suitable for the Atlantic trade; still, it
will be seen there is a great reserve yet
to draw from, and it is certain that the
entente powers would not have the
slightest Scruple in communicating them
in case of necessity. The rights of
small nations" in this respect count for
nothing as against the military necessi-
ties of the large ones,
The ships of the neutral nations of
Europe are, of course, now being used to
the limit; Norway has already lost more
steamers, proportionately, than England
has, and the others-Holland, Spain,
Greece and Sweden-have suffered heavi-
ly. Those which have escaped, or prac-
tically escaped, loss are China, Argen-
tine, Peru, Chile, Cuba and Uruguay,
which have between them some 10000
tons of steam shipping, of which half, at
least, is available. There are also about a
million tons of ocean-going steam vessels
engaged in the coastwise trade of Aus
tralia, New Zealand and South Africa
which can, to some extent, be drawn up
on, and considerable tonnage engaged
in Indian and Asiatic coastal work which
is subject to the needs of Britain and
France In any case, it is fairly clear
that the entente powers will comb the
entire world of it's shipping before it is
brought to a standstill by the U-boat
campaign. The "small nations" will
have no right to their vessels that the
others are bound to respect, though, no
doubt, they will be paid something for
what is taken. But the example OF Port
ugal in "leasing" the German ships to
England is forecast of what may be ex-
pected if the need arises. And the habit
which all the ''small nations" now seem
to be getting, of severing diplomatic rela-
tons with Germany, points in the same
general direction.-New York Call.