The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1918-10-19


\ A TRANSPORTATION service in less than
31cezzaeal one year.
H. From fleet of more than $50
NAxAVI cargo ships Of all kinds IN July,
1913 to a vast armada Of 1000 In
July 1919 This epitomizes the predicted CROWN
In the service In coming year.
From a vast armada of 800 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 No. OF
the naval reserve. 1t developed early In tne
autumn Of last year when the urgent need ZOE
military supplies impressed the navy department
with the necessity Of giving separate entity TO
the operation Of cargo ships, There now are
l7oO officers and IL 900 men In this branch OF the
navy's service.
A commander Of the navy Is supervisor OF the
entire naval overseas transportation service WIFI
headquarters at Washington. The New YORK
division Is under the supervision OF naval neu-
tenant.
The great conflict raging in Europe has been
described as q war of transportation 1t Is gem
orally conceded that the war cannot be won with
out the American army. But the American army
ut home is more than 5000 miles from the front.
The problem OF winning the war resolves itsetI.
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 a small beginning 1t
has overcome what for while appeared to be
Insurmountable obstacles, and it Is doing a 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 or snip
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 that there Is an incessant flow OF sup
plies to that man. ANY interruption through lack
of shipping or men to man ships would be dis
astrous
Besides supplying the troops at the front, 1t 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, 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 win be 100000 men the other
side This reckoning four lightweight tons for each
man, will mean that America win have to provide
100000 tons Of shipping to supply these men.
Charles H. Schwab, director Of the shipping
board has said that he is going to build 100000
deadweight 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. II the service can have the necessary adj
vance notice as to personnel requirements there
need be no hitch from this standpoint In the
number Of troops sent over. They will be amply
provided for after they arrive and they win be
brought back home at the close Of the war.
e 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 once the training of 22.000 Off
GERS and 100000 men to man the merchant ma
FINE.
It thus appears as IL the navy may be asked TO
man not only the war-zone ships, but those plying
among American seaports and to North and
Eputh American ports. Naval officers would not
be surprised If 1t should mean eventually the
raanning by the navy Of coal barges and tow
hpats.
About 100 companies owned the American mer-
cant marine at the time the United States en-
tered the war. Enormous RFafts were made in
the transportation of esssVzRaas by water. Any
old tub that would float was worth almost her
weight In gold. MarAy abandned ships were re-
paired and putt 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 AMI off-shore
barges took the place OF tie coastwise vessels.
America had at the beginning OF the War about
100000 deadweight tori Aef shipping, Only 10
per cent Of thi.3wss Ds'v for ocean travel
b addition tcli ne losses America
n,ar 3su1Fer she - provide perhaps H.
- he troops overseas and