New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-10-05
Our Merchant Marine
The Real Basis Of Naval Power and
Overseas Commerce

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: The announcement made recently that
extensive additions are being planned for our
merchant marine, bringing IT up to 100000
tons within a year, is refreshing. NEXT 70
an adequate navy this nation hes been In
desperate need Of a merchant marine. IL IL
extremely unfortunate that our trade and
passenger traffic has until very recently been
in the hands Of Great Britain, Germany, Rus
STA, and latterly of Japan on the Pacific.
Even the small nations OF Europe, Ike the
Scandinavian powers, Holland, Spain and
Italy, to say nothing Of France, have been TO
a considerable extent our carriers. La Fol-
Iette's shipping bill, as is well known, struck
a death blow TO our Pacific merchant marine,
leaving the field clear to Japan.
Such conditions as have prevailed until re-
Gently are likely TO inhibit the development
of our navy and make US dependent on The
great powers of Europe and Asia, as well as
their smaller subsidiary neutral states. This
ia inst what we must avoid, as our chief
danger in the future is from attack by some
great combination Of European and Asiatie
powers having a hold in Latin America and
possessing sufficient naval force to control
more or less effectively both oceans, menac-
ing our coast and the canal from all sides.
In this age Of rapid political changes and
revolutionary methods Of warfare on land,
sea and in the air nothing is so fantastic but
that il may suddenly harden into everyday
fact. To be left without independent car
riers in the event OF such a crisis would
seriously weaken our power either for Of
fence or defence.
The connection also between a great inde-
pendent merchant marine and a great navy
il very close, as can see from study OF
the development Of the British, German or
japanese navies. The naval idea proceeds
from the commercial one in the most natural
way possible, all other naval development
being forced and unnatural. This Is why
military" navy developed suddenly under
pressure of need instead Of through the nat
utal process of the merchant name me
protective cruiser fleets and finally the var
navy. usually fails. Such a navy consists
not of sailors, but of soldiers on ships who
take long time to learn the ways Of the sea-
The new merchant marine proposed, il con-
sistently furthered and subsidized, as in
Europe. will put US In position Of practical
Independence Of both European and Asistic
carriers probably long before the close Of the
war. IL will also stifen our navy enor-
mously and give US truly marine sea force
upon which we can depend in any future
contest. Our navy is now about equal in
tonnage to that OF Germany or Japan and
probably more efficient vessel for vessel than
Great Britain's When our merchant marine
develops comparably to that OF our great
rivals the tonnage and efficiency Of our navy
will rise steadily and wholesomely and We
shall be in such position on the sea as not
TO fear the most powerful combinations OK
Europe and Asia which may concevaoly at
tack u.s. The increase of the merchant ma
rine will also stimulate the growth o. the
cruiser class of vessels, thus raising the tone
of our sea forces, protecting our commerce
and increasing our wealth at the same time.
G. A. REICHLING.
Brooklyn, Oct. 2, 1917.