The spectator., 1919-10-31
UNITED STATES IS IN THE WAY OF BECOMING ONE OF THE
 MARITIME NATIONS.
RESULT OF THE GREAT WAR
Ships Built and Acquired by the Gov ernment Are Being Turned Over to Private wnership-Trainino Men to Operate Them.
By JAMES p. HoRNADAY.

~ i' uo" hudhiuS ioilS StIlueS III thAt direction. A member of the consular service who came in the other day from his post on the other side of the earth remarked that the American flag may now be seen regularly where 1t was seldom. if ever, seen prior to the war. American freight carrying ves- sels are now entering most of the i'm portant ports of the world," said this consular officer. Ut is q new eXperi- ence for those of us who are repre- senting our government in far away places to see American built ships sailing under the American flag and carrying products taking their place alongside the ships of the other great maritime countries"
 Now that the men who fought in France have nearly all been brought home the shipping board will be able to place a great many more ships in the freight-carrying trade. During the last few days several additional as signments have been made to South American routes and the number of boats carrying freight to European ports is being increased almost daily.
 War Made the Merchant Marine.
 Development in shipbuilding in this country has already progressed enough to warrant the statement that foreign trade is no longer a question of ships. When the United States entered the war in April. 1917. the country, as al most everybody knows. was without a merchant marine worth mentioning. Since the war began the government has launched 1,46S ships of 5.406,03S gross tonnage Reels for 299 addi- tional ships have been laid and many of these vessels are almost ready to be launched. Of the government ships of wood and 16 were of composite build. Every one is a large modern freight carrier.
 The government since the beginning of the war has also come into posses sion of large number of ships, some freight and some passenger, through purchase. It is also the possessor Of the German owned ships that were interned in harbors in this country when we entered the war. A few of these German ships may go to other countries in the final distribution, but most of them will continue to sail un- der the American flag. The govern. ment is not operating all the ships it has built or has bought since the war began. A good many have passed to prlvate ownership. It has been the policy, however. to insist that all ves- seIs disposed of by sale shall remain under the American flag.
 All to Be Privately Owned.
 Congress. 1t Is assumed, will in due time authorize the shipping board to sell all government-owned ships. The board some time ago recommended private ownership and operation as a fundamental policy for commercial shipping In its report to congress 1t advocated legislation which would au. thorize the government to retire from commercial shipbuilding, ship owning and ship operating activities "at the earliest date which may be convenient and practical" Thus far congress has not taken up the subject but 1t plans to do so at the next session. New companies for the operation of ships are being organized nearly every week. The ships that are now being sold by the shipping board are as n rule passing into the hands of these companies.
 The problem of obtaining men to op- crate American built ships is being solved. Some months ago the govern ment through the shipping board of fered some unusual Inducements In or der to interest young men in the sea life. For one thing 1t established here supercargo school in which large number of young men were trained in the business of taking charge of the cargo of an ocean freight carrier. The young men trained in this school, and who had never had any particular ex- perience at sea- are now making regu- lar trips to foreign ports. and the testimony is that invariably they like 1t. Of the 100000 young men who crossed to France at wars call, thou sands acquired taste for sea life and are falling into the new maritime organization.
 In nearly every port along the At- lantic and gulf coasts operators of privately owned ships have opened schools for the training of ordinary seamen.
 Two Problems for Congress.
 While the senate i S trying to dispose of the treaty of peace with Germany, congress as whole is finding time to give some thought to two subjects in particular railroad legislation and budget system for the government. In committee in both senate and house some real progress is now being made with the framing of legislation under which the railroads will be returned to their owners. But 1t is doubtful. say the men who are en-