The Monticellonian., 1918-09-06

July, 1919 This epitomizes the predicted growth in the service in coming year.
 From vast armada of 1,5o0 ships of all kinds in July, 1919, to the worlds greatest merchant marine for all time to come. This epttomlzes tae devout hope of every man in the transportation service.
 The naval overseas transportation service IS an outgrowth of the recruiting for class No $ or the naval reserve. It developed early Tn the autumn of last year when the urgent need TOT military supplies impressed the navy department with the necessity of giving separate entity to the operation of cargo ships. There now are HOO officers and 1000 men in this branch of the navy's service.
 A commander of the navy is supervisor ot the entire naval overseas transportation service, With headquarters at Washington. The New 4efk division is under the supervision of naval lieu tenant.
 The great conflict raging in Europe has been described as a of transportation. It is gen orally conceded that the 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 q while appeared to be insurmountabe 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 deadweight tons of ship ping must be set aside to maintain him. To send him across without thus providing for his exls- tence would be nothing short of crime. It IS the duty of the navy transportation serv- ice to that there is an ineessant flow of sup plies to that man. Any interruption through lack of shipping to man ships would be dis astrous.
 Besides supplying the troops at the front, it is the duty of the transportation service to fetch necessities to the United States from other coun- tries. Navy vessels are used to bring hemp, n- 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 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 3000,000 men the other side. This, reckoning four deadweght tons for each man. will mean that America will have to provide 100000 tons of shipping to supply these men,
 Charles NJ. Schwab director of the shipping board has said that he is going to build 10,O00,000 deadweight tons of ships in the coming year. The aim of the transportation service is to be ready to and operate all any of the ships. If the service have the necessary ad- vance notice to personnel requirements there need be hitch from this standpoint in the number of troops sent 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 H. Hurley chairman of the shipping board. who is reported to have requested the secretary of the navy to begin at the training of % GOO off cers and 100000 to the merchant ma rne.
 It thus appears If the navy may be asked to not only the warzone ships, but those plying South American ports. Naval officers would not be surprised if it should mean 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 Enormous profits were made in the transportation of essentials by water Any old tub that would float 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 war about 3,0O0OO0 deadweight tons of shipping. Only TO per cent of this was available for ocean travel In addition to any submarine losses America may suffer she will have to provide perhaps 12-