Arizona republican., 1917-11-12
Sinking and Buiidina


 the Fleet Corporation and the Shipping board These changes still leave in these bodies the who ceeded to them when General Goethals resigned but they introduce business men who are accustomed to doing things efficiently It has been made plain that things have not been going well in ship construction. There has been too much conflict of authority, too great nsstence position. much of the habits which formed amidst the entanglements of red tape. Red tape does not do much appreciable harm in time peace but it has already done incacuabe harm in time of war. War is a business enterprise and it is apparent that the preparation for it must be made by business men. If the men left unhampered by the traditions all will yet be we'll
 But all is not well nearly well, we learn from the thirteenth of series of articles by Theodore M. Knappen in the New York Tribune the subject of shipping. Washington, writes Mr. Knappen, finds no encouragement the optimistic presentation, by Sir Eric Geddes, the first lord of the admiralty of the damage done by submarines to the worlds shipping. Experts place reliance Sir Fries that the net loss of British shipping since the beginning the has been only 2,5OOOOO of vessels of more than 1900 tons register Says MT. Knappen: Even if those figures be accepted the situation serious enough for is the present rate of destruc ton that gives the greatest for concern"
 According to the figures kept at Washington the worlds gross loss of shipping between February and September inclusive through the activity of the sub marines about-3, 100000 gross about B. 10000 dead weight According the figures of Sir Eric the submarines destroyed 740,000 gross tons or 100000 dead weight tonnage during the months of August and September and this was not period of maximum destruction. How much than that, only guess. As against that, says MT. Knappen, the United States is building only 4OO 900 tons every two months and will probably do better than million tons in two months during 1918.
 Says Mir. Knappen:
 A comparison of ship building with ship sinking is not, therefore. very encouraging. There is added fact which is often overlooked. Shipping that the impairment of efficiency resulting from conditions is equivalent in tonnage to the totally destroyed The drydocks and marine repair facilities of the world monopozed by naval craft which always have the right of way, that chant ships forced to keep in service when they ought to be overhauled
 Ships that ought to make ten eleven knots are down to six because of the low state of eff cency of their machinery. The conveying system, too, though it is saving ships, is reducing the duty of the ships it It takes seven weeks for sels in convoy make round trip from the United States to France, whereas in peace conditions five weeks would be sufficient Another factor is the loss of time required for repairing that considerable number of ships orpedoed shelled by submarines, but finally saved. Efficiency is also impaired by port congestion.
 Each day of the develops greater demands on shipping than was anticipated The Italian debacle demonstrates the vital importance of abundant shipping and at the same time makes it certain that transport responsibilities not hitherto calculated will have to be added to those already piled upon the shoulders of America.
 Russias rehabilitation and active re-entry into the war; it is now apparent depends largely on trans port facilities-and they must be supplied by the United States It is impossible for France to put forth her full military strength without vast volume of American shipping at her disposal Even England finds her naval operations hampered without sstance in the matter of transporting fuel oil. At time, the weakness of Russia and the stun ming Italy dispose of the question of whether armies really needed abroad There is no longer any question whether shall send supplies and mu nitions to allies troops. It is a question of sending both in ever greater volume.
 This Is time to rejoice the great things we have done in shipbuding and now certain to do It is the time more than to strive for still greater achievements More than may it be said that the destiny the world Is being shaped by the toll of the men who build the ships that go down the