The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1919-04-06
AMERICANS DO
A FIFTH Of
ALL SHIPPING
VIZ NOW HAVE 7sz vE8sGLS PLY.
ING TRADE R0UTGo OF oeveN
SEAS; as ~ USE or ARMY ANo
NAVY.
sy 4. z. oELDHoF.

The American flag, ripping from
the gaffs Of American ships. manned
by American seamen, now flies on all
the seven seas for the first time In 50
years.
Ports in far distant parts Of. the
world, such as the Dutch East Indies.
into whose harbors no American mer-
chant ship has sailed since the long
gone days Of clipper ships. are once
more traversed by Yankee keels.
TO Africa, to Asia. to Australia and
to South America to say nothing OF
all the ports OF Europe. the United
states Shipping Board has opened
trade routes.
The American merchant marine,
built up during the war to help beat
the Hun, now represents One-ftfth y
the see -going tonnage Of the world.
At the outbreak Of the war in 1914.
ships under the American flag carried
only 10 per cent Of the exports and
imports Of this country. Today the
American merchant marine comprises
4s per cent Of all shipping plying be-
tween this country and foreign ports.
SHIPS We Own.
we find that 752 vessels. aggregat-
ing 1851 ,23S gross tons. are now en-
ployed in overseas service under the
American flag. OF these ships 20 per
cent are owned by the government.
This fleet includes ISL freighters. -
freight and passenger vessels. re-
frigerator ships. Z freight, passenger
and refrfserator ships. Golfers. II
steam tankers and $50 sailing ves-
sells.
In addition to this fleet. the army
~ h.
longing to the shipping board with a
total tonnage Of 1,S73.s21. When these
ships are returned to the merchant
marine 1t will have 1106 ships on salt
water.
The 7s2 vessels mentioned above are
distributed on the following trade
routes:
Africa, -; England. Is: France. 81:
Belgium, 4; Italy. %: Switzerland, !:
Spain, 3: Portugal. Z: Mediterranean
ports. o: Sweden. Holland. Norway
and Denmark. 3: Eastern Asia, -:
East Indies. s: British India, 3; Aus
tralia. II: Hawaii. II: Amazon river.
81: Central Brazil. ~: River Platte,
So; west coast Of South America. 10:
West Indies. 1885, other Caribbean
ports. IS: Mexico, a.; Alaska. II;
Canada. II.
TN America you hear much about
British competition, says Chairman
r. a.. Hurley. Of the shipping board.
TN Great Britain I heard . great deal
more ABOUT American competition"
Most Of the steamship operators
said It wouldn't be possible to induce
American boys to 90 to sea In any
considerable numbers. Americans are
not . sea-faring people. they pointed
out.
$500 Want To as Tirsmsn.
But in the year that the boards
training ships for recruits have been
in operation, $4,000 Americans have
applied for training and half OF them
wanted jobs az firemen-the hardest
work aboard ship.
No recruits are now accepted I'M
less they are American citixens.
The American shipping board esti-
mates that $4,000 will be needed for
the ships coming out in 1919 alone.
A sailors life nowadays IL that of
gentleman. The old days Of brutal
! beatings with q Delaying pin from a
cursing mate. Of living in filthy FORE
castles and Of eating salt horse" anil
bareback. are things Of the past. Now
the men eat soft bread and fresh veg
etables and meats, sleep in comfort
able iron hunks, wear natty uniforms
almost like that Of the navy and re-
ceive treatment a. good as that ac-
corded by any employer ashore.
And their pay compares favorably
with that of jobs ashore. while oppor-
tunities for Advancement are plenti-
full An able seaman gets SITS . month.
board and uniform. while other rat
ings. such a. carpenter. cook, ETC..
get from $50 to $50 . month.