Ripley County democrat., 1918-01-04
j. S. NAVY OPENS
WAY TO CAREER IN
MERCHANT MARINE
TREMENDOUS REVIVAL ~ SHIP
PING AFTER WAR MEANS
FORTUNE FOR CAPABLE,
TRAINED YOUNG MEN.
Indications Point to an Era Of oppor-
tunIty Like That Of Golden
cIipper-Ship Days--Chance
for Ambitious Youths.

ent war will be short one, and II
therefore behooves young men who
may be called upon to give their time
to their country for the next few years
to consider the peculiar advantages
the navy offers them as a career, eth
er In the private or public carrying
trade that Is coming.
Regardless of when or where the
war ends, the navy must continue TO
be manned 1t will be bigger and
better navy at the end Of hostlities
than It was at the beginning. but II
the safety of every principle for which
we are fighting must be guaranteed 1t
will have to grow still bigger in the
ensuing years. America has al last
taken her proper place as a great
world power and her ability to hold
that place will depend almost entirely
upon the navy.
But even II one docs not expect to
be naval man all his life he will find
his wartime experience q direct step
piuB-bJOLS W u SOinH'oiNihi SdicSi IA
which energetic and capable men will
be In tremendous demand. For vast
field OF opportunity is opening in the
new mercantile marine.
The youth OF the present generation
has forgotten the time when the
American flag was actually known Ia
every port Of the world. That was In
the days OF the old clpper-buiit sailing
ships which were so superior In speed
and carrying power to the vessels OF
any other country that our commercial
fleet was fairly entitled to--be called
Mistress OF the Seas.
Wien Commerce Declined.
The C.yii War and the fact that we
weren't ready TO compete with Europe
In the ballding OF iron and steel ves-
sells caused US to lose that supremacy.
Our own internal development was SO
rapid and the demands cf the great
railroad bulidilg era ior men were 80
great that we oldn't care much II we
did lose it. So II came tbout that up
to three years ago We RANKED below
even small countries In the blue-water
carrying trade.
Now a revolutionary situation con-
fronts us. Our internal development
has been so great that Il Is Dcund 10
stvw up. We shal never asaia Know
such building boom Gs that Of the
last half century. Europe VIII know
one, Tor hail Cf Europe Will have to ne
rebuilt But. at the same time, Europe
will have lost its domination OF the
carrying trade because of the tremen-
| dous wartime destruction of shipping
and the extraordinary demand iior la
Tor Of all kinds that will be necessary
TO a reorganization, Of all European In
dustries,
II is therefore the logical time for
America to seize its unprecedented op-
portunity. Already every hulk that
can be got to sea is being snapped up.
livery private yard that can build D
freight-carrying ship Is working to fun
capacity, new yards are springing up
everywhere, whole forests and mines
are being drained for material. The
next few years will see thousands
upon thousands Of new American ships
put into commission as rapidly as they
can be manned.
\ Chance for Navy Men.
BY whom will they be mannedf I
Sailors and navigators and captains
and mates cannot be made In day.
and for more than 80 years America
has not been training them In any
thing like adequate force.
But 1t must be remembered that tho
United States navy has the reputation
of producing seamen who are Without
superi6rs In all the world. To what
ether source than the navy win pro,
vate shipowners lock for the men they
viii so urgently need?
The road to success will be ready
made in this new business for bright,
capable young men from the navy. Al.
most any one OF them who is industri-
GUS, capable and ambitious can expect
to become an officer in the mercantile
marine. Furthermoraeit was to the
fact that our ship officers were ex.
pected to be business men and were
permitted to become part owners ai
their own vessels that the old clipper,
ship trade was able 10 grab the
worlds business. Those conditions win
came again In the near future.
The future Is therefore secure 70
any man who will cast In his lot with
the navy now in Its time OF greatest
! need. II he wishes to remain In the
serviceshe will have an honorable and
.remnneratiye career open 70 him. with
The certainty that he will be taken
care OF In hts old age, whatever mis'
fortunes may occur, II he wishes "a
get into the commercial service hla
chances to rise Ia the world will BE-
unsurpassed.
Think Il over. young man.