Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-05-02

ent rate of British construction of ships
and the present estimated American
rate could not keep pace with the pres
ent rate of destruction by submarines.
The Balancing Figure
The balancing figure in the world
struggle. said Lord Percy, lis the ton
mage the United States can supply"
Lord Percy's announcement was the
FIRST intimation that the shipping con-
ferences had actually resulted in any
agreement. 1t was taken as forerun-
ner of a very wide degree of co-opera-
ton in which the present tonnage and
the future building powers of this coun-
try will be pooled with the allies to de-
Feat the German submarine menace.
Lord Percy stated that the British
mission had supplied the American
government with every detail of the
shipping problem including the needs
cf the allies. The American shipping
board he said. had shown the heartiest
co-operatio with the fullest under
standing OF the urgency of the siuta-
ton.
THE shipping ISSUE said Lord Percy,
dominates everything else and Is very
grave indeed Both the present British
construction and the estimated American
construction cannot keep pace with the
present rate OF destruction.
Both must be speeded up very appre-
cahlv if the seas are to be kept open
The war has resolved itself into race
between the efficiency of the British ana
American shipyards and the German SUD-
marine.
THE balancing factor in the world
struggle is the tonnage the United STATES
can supply. Only in case this IS large can
the present military service and 1000 sup
ply be continued This is the most vitality
serious problem, which cannot be exag-
gerated.
The United States" Lord Percy went
on. lis one of the few countries that is
absolutely self-sufiicient in shipbulldlng
You have here the men, the material the
nventiveness. France. Italy ana 'ap'"
also are building somewhat. but, unlike
this country. must use ships to build SHIPS
through the need of Importing ra" mate
rails
"Thc shining problem is not onl"
matter of tonnage. but equally matter
Of how fast that tonnage IS USED. Every
method possible is being used TO save
shipping for the vital purposes ana heep
It away from essentials. Each or the
Allied nations has instituted natioilai
shining board. while over them all Is the
general SHINING board in London, when
attempts to harmonic the demands vi
Shipping and direct it to the most Gill
cient use.
"For months we have been cutting
down the need for ships untl[ practi-
calv every vessel is now on an III.
nortant mission. The British "ouio
he quite comfortable alone II II were
not necessary to consider the neeos
of its allies and the neutrals. For IN
stance there are ten million tons or
cxportahlc wheat in the Empire "Iic'.
could easily supply Englands neeo Vi
xix million tons unless we were ui'oel
the rigid obligation to supply our al
lies. France alone has been allotteo
- per cent. of our total tonnage lot
direct military service. including TWO
hundred vessels carrying oats, wheat
and stool from the United States
alone"
Lord Percy gave figures to show that
at the end of March twenty-five per
cent. of England tonnage was IN o.
rect naval and military service: thirty
four per cent. under requisition for
government supplies; twenty-five per
cent. reserved through the big lines 1or
quasi government work and only q
per cent. subject to the general needs
IF industry.