The Raymer enterprise., 1919-05-29
May Be GREATEST
MARITIME POWER
Shipbuilding Facilities Now Put
U. S. in Lead.
MERCHANT MARINE To1sTAY

Hurley Il Convinced America Can
outstrip All Other Nations lnl Re
placing Lost Tonnage = United
States viii Require Fleet Of 7,5oor
600 Tons to Carry commercs Esti.
mated for 1920.
Shipbuilding facilities acquired dur
Ing the war have made the United
States the greatest potential maritime
power OF the world, asserts Chairman
d. N. Hurley Of the shipping board,
and will enable 1t to outdistance all
other nations In the race toward re-
placing a shortage Of 16,225, 900 gross
tons Of shipping lost as the result Of
unrestricted German submarine war
fare and Of the failure Of normal In
crease by new production. Mr.. Hur
ley made this assertion in a
report Of his trip to Europe. where
for three months he was In close touch
with the shipping interests Of foreign
nations. The report will be used In
working out a policy of ownership
and operation Of the American mer-
chant marine.
MIR. Hurley estimated that In July.
1914. the seagoing steam bottoms Of
the world totaled 41.225,000 gross
tons, which was reduced by war to
37OOO,O0O gross tons, net loss Of
4,225,000 gross tons. In addition, he
stated, there was loss OF 12000,000
gross tons which would have been con-
structed II war had not stopped the
normal Increase In production, max
Ing a total loss of 16,225,000 gross
tons. The allies and neutrals suffered
total loss by enemy action, marine
risk, and capture OF 15,218,000 gross
tons, Mr.. Hurley said. and gained by
new construction and seizure Of en-
emy ships l4.249.000 gross tons, leav-
Ing net loss Of $4,000 gross tons.
The net loss to the central powers was
even greater. since they lost 3Ol8,000
gross tons and gained only 100000, q
difference of 2.278OOO gross tons.
United States Takes Lead.
Only two countries, the United
States and Japan, have a larger
amount Of tonnage now than when
the war began. Japan showed a net
gain of . per cent, Mr.. Hurley re-
ported. while the United States Jumped
far In the lead with n net gain Of
125 per cent.
"The United States forged ahead
as rapidly as Germany fell behind"
said the report. "In August, 1914,
the United States seag1lng merchant
marine. 500 gross tons and over, In
cluded 624 steamers Of LISA gross
tons, and $40 sailing vessels and
schooner barges of 1882 gross tons,
making a grand total Of 1,494 seagoing
merchant vessels Of 2,708,317 gross
tons. On November IL, 1918, at the
end OF the war, the steamgoIng mer-
chant marine had increased to 1855
vessels of 4,6S5, ,263 gross tons and the
sailing vessels and schooner barges
had decreased to TAT vessels Of $780,
9l7 gross tons, making a grand total
Of 2,113 seagoing merchant vessels Of
5515.lS0 gross tons. This does not in
clude the seized enemy vessels, which
at the end Of the war aggregated SO
vessels of 5b2.005 gross tons, Of which
number 81 Of 546.2l0 gross tons were
steamers and seven of 15,795 gross
tons were sailing vessels.
"The total construction in the United
States added to the merchant marine
during the war amounted to S75 ves-
sells Of 2.941 .S45 gross tons. The pur-
chase from aliens Of 233 vessels OF
s33,s54 ( -. sons. the movement from
t,N., @x.at lakes to the ocean Of 66
steaiers Of 139469 gross tons, and
miscellaneous acquisitions amounting
to 81 vessels of 1920 gross tons are
other sources Of acquisition. The loss
Of ia vessels of 322.214 gross tons
by enemy action, Of 27S vessels Of 405,-
400 gross tons by marine risk, Of 100
vessels of 28s149 gross tons by sale
to aliens, and Of GA vessels of 1927
gross tons through the sale to the
United States government, abandon
ment and other causes, accounts for
the decreases. Losses of fifteen Ger.
man and requlsitloned ships amount
Ing to 112.24S gross tons are not In
cluded.
To-day we are potentially the great
est maritime power Of the earth. for
the reason that we possess the great
est shipbuilding nstrumentalitles."
Al Try to Come Back.
Mr.. Hurley stated that Great Brit
ain suffered net loss In the war Of
3, AS, 900 gross tons. amounting to IS
per cent Of her entire tonnage Other
nations which suffered heavy losses
include Norway, which lost 1,17S,335
gross tons; France. 907. .lGs gross tons;