The sun., 1919-02-19
GLEAVES PLEADS
FOR SEA EQUALITY
Vice-Admiral Wants Men Of
Navy and Merchant Marine
Placed on Same Terms.
1000 SHIPS FOR FLEET
Patriotic Talk at Dinner Given
/ Job Hedges by Arts and
Sciences Society.

Urging the continuation of the Az.
shipping programme so that
American sea power will not only consist
of a strong lighting navy but also large
merchant marine, vice-Admiral Albert
f. Gleaves. in an address before the
Society Of Arts and Sciences at the Bit
more last night, advocated as one OF the
necessary changes in marine conditions
the establishment of an equal basis Of
nav. treatment and discipline for the
merchant seamen and -of-warsmen
The dinner was given In honor Of Job
f. Hedges Gin appreciation of the splen.
did quality of his citizenship and for his
valuable public services during the
period of the war;" ms printed on the
menu which was handed reporters BY
DR.. John r. Tucker Of the society.
Usually the functions of this society
are attended by men and women promi-
rent In New York social and public life
Such men as Henry w, TAFT, Frederich
c. Tanner, Col. Rodman Wanamaker
George McAneny. Chauncey NJ. Depew
and John NICE. Bowman were on the
reception committee
It so happened that James NJ Beck
whose denunciation OF President VIII
son on Lincoln's Birthday created con-
siderable comment here and In Washing
ton, was on the speakers list and thus
the gentlemen of the reception commit
tee. after ushering a few hundred guests
into the banquet hall, came out with the
announcement:
Now, my dear gentlemen OF the pres
you see Mr.. Beck Is going to speak. and
we can't very well invite you in-thF
- % y,at, ~ NAN4
Sunday night we will banquet John Gals.
worthy, and Of course you can come
then" The usher was in doubt whethe-
Mr.. Beck's speech was behind closed
doors at Mr.. Beck's request.
Wars Lesson Is Need of Sea Power
Vice-Admiral Gleaves said
THE outstanding lesson of the war ''
our need for sea power. 1t has again
been demonstrated that n nation without
sea power Is impotent, while the nation
which has sea power. and has 1t In
strength and might, will control the des'
TIMES OF the world.
Now sea power consists OF two ele'
ments. a fighting element and trade
element The fighting navy is the back
bone of sea power: the merchant marine
Is its sinews and muscles.
These sinews and muscles Of our
sea power have suddenly assumed large
proportions. but they are somewhat
flabby. In fact dangerously so, and how
to harden them IL great problem IN
our present work OF reconstruction.
"If our war programme is carried out
We shall have in 192o-21 in round nun.
bers 1000 ships of about an average Of
10000 tons. totalling 2O,o00,Oo0 tons
In 1914 the total tonnage in the world
was about 10000 900. The war chen
by submarine destroyed 5000, 600 tons,
OF which II. 900, 900 have been replaced
Also at the beginning of the war the
United States mechant marine had only
one-eighth as much seagoing tonnase as
Great Britain-now II has increased 70
one-third.
This American merchant feet wh'cH
| have Just mentioned will cost upward
OF four billion dollars-ten times as
much as the Panama Canal-and Of
| this snim two and a half millions nsVs
| already been appropriated.
VIII Require 1000 shippers
| "Whether this enormous feet will be
Under Government control or whether u
will be chartered TO private corpora
| lions Is a tremendous question involving
| many NeNlUR tonSluti dllpi's' " -
sand ships will require, in the nrst
place, 1000 shippers and 5000 nav'sa'
| tors.
There is no use in seeing things
| through a pink mist OF optimism. Ger
| tain constructive changes will have N
be made or We must be prepared 70
| accept the loss. see our merchant ms
rine dwindle and our producers once
| more dependent upon foreign bottoms
| TO carry their goods.
| "As a naval OFFICER I cannot discuss
matters OF policy or criticise our Jaw
| makers. even II I was SO disposed, whio'
! am not. Rut believe l may he pa
| mitted to call attention TO three or VOW.
vital points First in the new order o.
| things, there should he no Discrimination
between the pay of a merchant seama,
and man-of-warsman. because NJ,
| services are voluntary, and an equnn
rum should he established and mar
tanned in their compensation s'oo''
| the merchant seaman should he as co"
| Portable and his quarters as sanltar
and in general he should be as well axe
care OF as the man-of-warsnan 'hIH
the captain OF merchant ship 'hou"
| have, as far as possible. the same az
| Ciplinary control as a naval captain oNe'
his men.
"nl advised legislation al this on'
might prove fatal to our mercha' IT'S
! rine, and we must take every pr"cdH,'o
to insure TO the struggling intaN'
healthy childhood, and that VII meg
| l.,