The Hawaiian gazette., 1918-05-28
HE ADVERTISERS SEM-WEEKLY |
Ships the Paramount Need

D EPORTS from ship building officials now in
N dictate that the United States has found its
stride in ship building and these reports are all
that they imply there is much cause for gratif-
cation 1t is none the less evident that ships are the
paramount need Of the nation, not only ships to
carry our men overseas and to keep them supplied
with food and munitions and other supplies, but
ships to move food for the citizens OF this country
and for their allies food that is necessary to supply
their absolute needs, ships to keep going the i'm
portant and the essential industries of the nation.
Here in Hawaii this is being brought home to
us clearly and strkingly as the sugar that is
ground in the mills Of the Territory piles up in
store houses faster than it can be moved. Mean
time there is need of this sugar elsewhere and that
need will grow more acute as the canning season
en- the mainland progresses. - IT,. :. ~ "r. e.
On this need of shipping Facts About Sugar in
recent issue observes
Attention has been called frequently to the fact
that the distribution of sugar supplies has become
mainly question of ships, As the demands for
men and material to maintain the battle line in
creases-and they will continue to grow until a
decisive issue of the conflict is in sight-it becomes
evident that more and more stringent restrictions
must be imposed upon the movement Of materials
that are not absolutely war essentials.
Thus it appears probable that Americans may
again be called upon restrict their of sugar
not because sugar is unnecessary nor because of
any lack of supplies in the hands Of producers, but
solely in order to provide every possible cubic foot
of cargo space for the requirements of our grow
ing army in France What applies to sugar will
apply equally to many other useful and important
commodities
To every careful student of conditions it is plain
that the successful prosecution of the war itself
has become question of ships. There is no lack
Of man-power in the United States, but since every
soldier in France requires four to five lightweight
tons of shipping to keep him in supplies the extent
TO which man-power can be made available is
limited directly by the amount of shipping that
can be put into operation. e.. r.,.
1t is unfortunate that the impression should
have been created that the elaborate program Of
shipbuilding adopted by the Government has made
private effort along this line UNNECESSARY and even
unwelcome. Even though the plans of the emer-
gency feet corporation ape cSrried through with
out delay, the resulting tonnage will not be suff-
cient to provide for both military and commercial
| requirements Every national industry should
| study methods by which it can quickly aid in in
Icreasing the size of our merchant marine.
Such assistance can be rendered in various ways
aside from the undertaking of actual construction
The investment of funds in construction plants
the training of recruits for the army of sailors
CURED to man the growing feet, the supply of ma
terials for the housing and feeding of shpworkers
are enterprises that will contribute to the desired
result A conference to determine ways and mean:
! by which outside industries aid in furtherine
the progress of ship construction and operation is
to be held in New York Similar meetings should
be held in every part of the country, at INLAND
points as we'll as at the ports
Every industry that contributes capital, labor
material, facilities to the expansion Of American
shipping will be serving both the country and it
self This applies with particular force to thu
sugar industry, since it is more largely dependen
than most others upon ocean transportation.
w. s. S..