Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1918-09-05

July 1919. This epitomizes the preucted grown
in the service in coming year.
From a vast armada of 1,500 ships of all kinds
in july 1919, to the worlds greatest merchant
marine for all time to come. This epitomizes the
devout hope of every man in the transportation
service
The naval overseas transportation service IS
an outgrowth of the recruiting for class No5 OF
the naval reserve. 1t developed early In the
autumn of last year when the urgent need for
military supplies impressed the navy department
with the necessity of giving separate entity TO
the operation of cargo ships. There now are
LOO officers and 11,OO0 men in this branch OF the
navy's service.
A commander of the navy is supervisor OF the
entire naval overseas transportation service, with
Headquarters at Washington. The New York
division is under the supervision of naval leu
tenant
The great conflict raging in Europe has been
described as war of transportation 1t is gen
orally conceded that the war cannot be won with
out the American army. But the American army
at home is more than 5000 miles from the front
The problem Of winning the war resolves ITSELF
therefore, into one of transportation, To remedy
the weak points in this means of communication
the navy overseas transportation service was es-
tablished Thus far from small beginning 1T
has overcome what for while appeared to be
insurmountable obstacles, and it is doing work
that for Importance and efficiency is second to
none in the army or navy.
For every man that the United States sends
to the front about four lightweight tons of ship
ping must be set aside to maintain him. To send
him across without thus providing for his exis-
tence would be nothing short of a crime. 1t is
the duty of the navy overseas transportation serv-
ice to see that there is an incessant flow of sup
plies to that Any interruption through lack
of shipping men to man ships would be dis
astrous.
Besides supplying the troops at the 'front.' it is
aJ
necessities to the United States from other coun-
tries. Navy vessels are used to bring hemp, nj
trates, manganese and chrome. Coal is trans
ported to important manufacturing points in New
England to relieve railroad congestion.
American destroyers running about at high
speed in European waters are in constant need
of fuel Oil, which must be supplied by the trans
portation service from the Oil fields Of the United
States or Mexico. All other sources of supply are
controlled by Germany
Already the United States has in Europe more
than 100000 men, By the end of next year
there probably will be 100000 men on the other
side This reckoning four lightweight tons for each
man, will mean that America will have to provide
100000 tons of shipping to supply these men.
Charles M. Schwab director of the shipping
board, has said that he is going to build 100000
lightweight tons of ships in the coming year.
The aim of the transportation service is to be
ready to man and operate all or any of the new
ships. If the service can have the necessary adj
vance notice as to personnel requirements there
need be hitch from this standpoint in the
number of troops sent over. They will be amply
provided for after they arrive and they will be
brought back home at the close Of the war.
The question Of manning this enormous array
of ships seems to be about solved by Edward 81.
Hurley, chairman Of the shipping board, who is
reported to have requested the secretary Of the
navy to begin at the training of $4,000 off,
X GERS and 100000 men to man the merchant ma
rine
6 1t thus appears as If the navy may be asked to
not only the war-zone ships, but those plying
t,aInong American seaports and to North and
South American ports Naval officers would not
be surprised If it should eventually the
manning by the navy Of coal barges and tow
boats
About 100 companies owned the American mer-
chant marine at the time the United States en-
tered the war; Enormous profits were made in
the transportation Of essentials by water Any
old tub that would float was worth almost her
weight in gold. Many abandoned ships were re-
paired and put into service Some were raised
from the ocean, where they had lain for years,
and were rebuilt. Coastwise steamships were
put into ocean service. Schooners and off-shore
barges took the place Of the coastwise vessels.
America had at the beginning of the about
100000 deadweight tons Of shipping. Only 20
per cent of this was available for travel.
In addition to any submarine losses America
may suffer she will have to provide perhaps 49,
100000 tons to supply the troops overseas and