The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1918-07-22

lice. A rental is paid BY the govern
ment and an allowance for the c1s
peDses. maintenance. working capital
aud other things made Ship owners
themselves manage their fleets and are
Encouraged to make them as effective
las possible by the distribution ct
bonuses and the replacing Of ships that
are sunk. !,
Ships cannot now be built in France.
The Minister Of Maritime Transport
and Merchant Marine holds that to
brins materials from the United States
or England would handicap French
shIpbuilders because Of the cost OF
materials and transportation. This
would mean that French exporters
would have to pay higher freight rates
to the owners after the ships were in the
water. This would place not only ex'
porters but all French industry under
a handicap III the competition for after
war markets. 1t Is proposed, there !
fore, that the state shall replace de- |
stroyed ships, as it, can buy materials
more cheaply, and therefore will be
able to contract for new ships on q
basis Of insuring reasonable rates to
the trader. The government contracts
to replace ships in this manner within
three years after the war, these ships
becoming the absolute property Of
those from whom their equivalents
have been requisitioned. /
on the other hand, the Ministry pro.
poses to build state-Owned fleet for
the colonies, which will be managed By 7
ship owners, the state sharing in the
profits and deficits. There will be no
more subsidies for ships in which the
government has no interests. With !,
these plans 80 proposed harb0r I'M !
provement. France has today no har- t
Dor where ships of the largest types
can dock. The government plans fur
Their to coordinate railroads and ship. {
ping lines, especially across the Med |
iterranean to Algiers and Tunis.
While France cannot avoid making
extensive purchases of building mate
rails and machinery abroad, she plans
to curtail largely her food imports.
Wheat, barley and rye are grown or
dinarily, but the war has brought /
many changes, and the French are get
ting acquainted with the cheaper l.
cereals, such as Indian corn, millet +
and rice four. In the government re- :.
port on war economy 1t was recon-
mended that every parcel Of soil not
cultivated be sown without delay with
wheat. barley. Indian corn and oats,
and planted with potatoes and vege- !
tables.
Legislation to increase agricultural
production is being framed. Deserted
territory will be cultivated. A back
to-the-farm movement has been inau-
gurated. and bonuses are to be given
to those who abandon their ancient
implements for modern agricultural
machinery. ,,.g ..,...--. .s.,...,..r'@,.
/ France has no such resources Of men
and materials as have Great Britain
and the United States. She under ,
stands that without the most intense
application of energy to such resources
as she has, increased production. elm.
ination Of all waste, and resolute ef.
fort to win foreign markets. she viii
be. unable to regain her standing
among commercial nations. That ef-
fort she IS making. She invites tic
United States to establish relations
with her that will be Of mutual benefit.
There is for this country no greater
opportunity for service and profit.