Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1918-06-18

army and navy we need, ana neeu
at once, millions more ship tonnage
to cover the Atlantic with our food
going TO the armies ana to the peo-
pies OF the allies. Obviously II Is
only one part Of our war task to
supply the fighting forces. Another
important part is to feed their men,
women and children behind the
fighting lines We must not let
them become debiliated and despair
ing because OF lack Of food. That
would be playing Germany's game,
The United States is now the great
reservoir from which supplies must
be drawn. The enormous gain In
our exports show how other nations
are increasingly looking TO us TO
sustain them. In 1914 we exported
about S2,500, 100000 worth OF prod
uCts. Last year our eXprots amount
ed to S6.23l 100000 or nearly three
times as much as in 1914. In stat
ing this latter amount a certain al
lOwance must be made for the fact
that money values are much greater
now than four years ago.
OF the more than six billion dol
lars worth Of products exported
from this country last year 81 ,3OO,-
600, 900 were foodstuffs md food
animals Furthermore, our exports
Of foods to Europe are all the
greater because OF the saving in
consumption OF various foods the
American people have been making
From their normal consumption Of
wheat the American people have
saved tens OF millions OF bushels,
and also great quantities Of meat
and sugar.
Exports VIII Increase.
Although our exports may oc-
casionally decline, stlll on the whole
there is every probability OF their
Increasing Not only during the war
but after the war. Large areas OF
Europe are dcpopulated and devas-
tated Much of the rich wheat
growing sections including almost all
of the winter wheat producing areas
OF Russia are in the Germans pos
session. Conditions in Russia are
chaotic. The western European al
lies produced in 1917 about 222,-
000. 900 bushels less than the annual
pre-war average. There was great
drop also in the wheat production
Of other European countries. Ar
gsntina. Australia and India are pro-
ducing good crops. But there is no
shipping to move 1t properly Be-
ing thousands OF miles Dearer the
scene the United States is the one
country looked upon FOR succor
While the war Is on there Ia big
enough demand from our allies In
Europe for material OF all kinds. We
have to supply coal, steel oil. cot
ton, lumber, rails, locomotives and
great quantity of other products
After the war when the job of re-
habilitating Europe is put through.
the demand upon this country for
raw and manufactured material OF
all kinds will he enormous. We
shall also have to replcpish the de-
pleted herds of Europe from our
own cattle. Ours. in fact, will be
the task OF supplying most of the
world.
So it Is clear that besides the mil
lions of tons of shipping urgently
needed for the army and navy, we
shall need a great permanent mer-
chant marine. In 1914 only 1885,
600. 900 OF the more than $1,000.
100000 of our exports was carried
in American vessels. Even now a
great part of the cargo and passen-
I ger ships we are Using are seized
enemy vessels or requisitioned or
chartered allied or neutral vessels.
American Ships Needed.
Not only on the Atlantic but on
all oceans must we have an abund-
ance of American ships. Since the
opening OF the Panama canal. the
Atlantic and Pacific oceans have
been linked by the short route.
Ships have to be used for imports
as well as exports Last year we inn
ported s2,659. 100000 worth OF mer-
chandise We need ample ships on
the Pacific to serve China, Japan,
the Philippines, Russia and Aus
tralia. All Of these countries as well
as Central and South America, have
materials or products which we need
/ Just as they need ours.
Australia recently had surplus
stated to be 10000, 900 bushels OF
wheat, and another big surplus in
process of gathering. There was
| enough, in fact, TO feed England and
France for year But 1t was OF
| no practical use to the allies. There
were no vessels to be spared for the
| long haul which takes sight. ar ten
weeks from Australia to England.
There were not even enough ves-
sells to carry it to our Pacific coast,
which is only nineteen-day trip.
| Last year there was surplus in
| Java of 1000, 900 tons of sugar
which other parts Of the world
needing badly, could not get because
| of lack OF ships.
Great heaps of coffee were spoil
| ing on the East India wharves.
| There was no shipping to move II
| to other countries.
Pyrites. which was badly needed
here, could not be brought from
Spain because of the want of ships.
These are but a few examples OF
what a ship famine means.
su~w - -.