The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1917-12-13
NAVY WILL MAN
MERCHANT SHIPS
Plans for Crossing War Lane
Are Made,

WASHlNGTON-Wc are about I,
take a hold Of the problem of mannn,
the transatlantic steamer, with met
enlisted in the service OF the Unite,
States.
The thought behind the program i
that the business OF shipping supple
and munitions TO Europe is too CLOSELY
lnvolyed with actual military opera
tionS to be left to civilian hands. Their
have been instances Of sailors and ever
officers Of the civilian crews ialinI
to do their full duty and ships hav,
been put in jeopardy by laMty OF
neglect
Every ship is supposed to pass un
der the command oi the officer il
charge Of the gun crew when it enter,
the danger zone, but that danger zone
limits have never been clearly dciineC
and the unpleasant possibilities Of d.
Nided command have already beer
manifest
Utilize Naval Reserve.
The idea is to cnli0 the men anJ
Officers in the naval reserve. They vii
draw the pay Of civilians which i,
double or triple that Of the navy pco.
pie in similar positions, but they viii
he part OF the official establishment
and, as such subject to penalties for
deSerrion di,obcdicncc Of orders and
neglect OF duty
There is no idea Of forcibly taking
seamcn, it will be a volunteer service
and no difficulty is anticipated in fill
ing the requirement for the men viii
have the higher pay OF the merchant
marine and the additional advantage,
of the navy service including inSur,
ancc and the opportunity to acquire
commissions
Legal Question in Way.
The plan originated with the navy
and is being iayorably considered by
the shipping board, though there are
legal questions involved that must be
determined before it is finally adopted
The navy found that the irresponSl
billty OF civilian crews was impcrlIlng
the safety OF supply ships. Crews went
ashore on the other side and cclebrat-
ed their safe passage OF the danger
zone in proyerbal seaman fashion
They had to be rounded up for the re-
turn passage, and enough Of them
were in such bad shape os to make II
impossible to get the necessary steam
on the vessels across the submarine IN
tested waters at immunity speed. Sail
ors and firemcn quit their Jobs in ports
exercising the civilian right to quit
when they pleased.
Altogether there have been enough
examples of ,rresponsbility to cause a
ist of anxiety, for every pound OF
freight is needed to supply our soldiers
in France and every delay means a
hindrancc to the military program.
Besides all mis- there is, under the
present system, the constant danger
of spies 10 learn all about every mem
Der of a picked up crew and there arc
stories OF signal lights being displayed
TO betray ships to the submarines and
bombs have been placed and fires set
on shipboard.
Some means had TO ne devised to
give the government complete authority
over every man on a ship bound Tor
the war zone, and the navy people and
the shipping board believe thev have
found it. II will take about $4,000 men
to care for the traffic as it now stands,
but every ship launched by the emerE-
ency fleet corporation means that more
men are needed. II is estimated that
there will be 100000 in the naval re-
serve crews by the end Of 1918 The
strength Of the naval reserve TODAY IS
less than 10000 men. all Of whom are
on duty with the armed forces.
The seamcn who do not care TO en-
fist for trans Atlantic service will be
used in the coasting trade and on mer.
chant voyages in parts OF the world
remote from the war.
The experts have determined that the
problem Of avoiding submarines IS
largely a matter Of efficient operation
Of the ships In order to insure the
highest possible efficiency the shippinr
board proposes establishing severa
schools for scamcn along the Atlantic
coast. In the intervals between voyage
the crews will he put through thes'
schools and given intensive training
Graduates Of these schools are expectci
TO he able to bring a ship through The
bad water at such speed as to max,
them practically sure Of escaping tn,
submarines
The transports are run entirely will
navy crews and will continue that way
There are probably forty Of these, Will,
there are lj0 cargo ships in operation
This proportion will be maintained
among the ships building and to b,
built
President Wilson said "a large