New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-03-09
Merchant Marine Has Saved
Europe From Starvation
Since Truce Was Signed
Exports Set New Mark
Wheat Sent Abroad at Rate
Of 36,OOO,OOO Bushels
A Month In Our Ships
By Edward n. Hurley
Chairman United States Shipping
Board

BOGrQ
While the war has wrought many
changes. its beginning and end
ticc-were strikingly similar in one
respect
With the outbreak Of the conflict our
scaports began to longest with freight,
there being no ships to carry our OK
ports because of the more urgent de-
mands of war. We were the most
powerful of all the ncutrals, yet we
had no overseas shipping of our own
and our commerce had to depend on
ships Of alien flags. n dependence that
failed us at the first note of war
For those controlling these ships under
foreign register placed their own war
necessities first, and we helplessly
stood aside and watched the products
OF our farms and stockyards congest
on piers and in warehouses, and saw
prices for these commodities descend
ut an appalling rate, all because of
the lack of ocean transportation.
Allied Ships Withdrawn
With the cessation of hostilities our
scaboard terminals once more began to
choke with the products of farm and
stockyard, a congestion due to the
same cause which had overloaded them
at the beginning of the war-lack of
adequate ocean transportation
This was the reflex action of the war
which absorbed and is still absorbing
tonnage for the homeward movement
of the lcgions which had been as
scmbcd on the various battle lines.
The Allies, no longer dependent upon
American armies and American war
material for their national safety,
suddenly withdrew many of their best
ships from the American trade.
American business was therefore
thrown suddenly upon its own re-
sources in caring for the essential i'm
ports so necessary for our manu-
tacturers.
After four years of privation the
whole world is in desperate need of
all that we can send from this land
of plenty. The only reason why we
cannot Immediately supply that need
lies III the fact that upward of 5000
GOO gross tons of shipping had been
sunk during the war, and although
American shipyards wrought an amaz-
unprecedented effort was not sufficient
TO overcome the enormous losses.
United States Is Feeding World
Nevertheless it is the American ship
yards and the tremendous energies
which built merchant marine from
the ground up that is saving a large
part of the world from starvation to-
day. Had it not been for the great
fleet which this nation set ahoat in
record breaking time and the conse-
quent independence. of the American
Of for No.
ship his products our agricultural popu-
laton would now be studying econo-
mics instead of the price of luxuries.
Although our seaboard terminals are
congested with freight awaiting ship
ment, this running into hundreds of
millions of dollars, more than 100 YES
sells of our new merchant marine arc
now devoted to the work of exporting
products of American farms and stock
yards. Next TO the fleet that is en-
gagged in serving army needs this
newly built fleet Of ours is the greatest
that now operates under the American
flag. Moreover, four-ifths of this
argosy came from American shipyards
during the last year. Only five of the
FOOD carrying ships antedatc 1918.
Great Reserve on Hand
The sudden termination of the war
found grain and meat storage ter
minals on the seaboards and Great
Lakes filled TO overlooking with an
unprecedented accumulation OF Ameri-
can foodstuifs. According to the
records OF the Department OF Agri-
culture there were in storage on
November l $50 0000 900 bushels of
grain. 250,0o0,oo0 pounds of dairy
products and nearly a billion pounds
of meats Some of the increases over
1917 we're from 10 to 100 per cent
NJ 1 "A
per cent; lard, more than 100 per cent
Had the new American merchant
marine not been en- hand TO move
theae products the consequent crash
IN prices and blow 20 the agricultural
population would have been appalling
As was pointed oft by Senator
RansdcN in his opening address 10
the merchant marine conference
which he called. the ccrtle c. popu-
lation IS IN Indiana, nioio han ,0GO
miles distant from the ee&boa"d. It
Is perhaps natural tina. r.cso OF the
interior far removed fros.. spl. water
should think they have no ,ntere t
IN shipping But listen a moment to
Senator Fletcher, chairman Of the SEN
ate Committee on Commerce..
Merchant Fleet Necessary
"lf anything mas been taught by the
war the Senator said IN adore sin o
tho conference, ut - that a merchant
marine - important for national
defence and our well being az are
our battleships. Moreover. II makes a
lot OF difference TO the farmer-al-
though he does not seem 20 realize it
whether he has to pay cents Il
oushei 70 carry mis- grain overseas or
20 cents bushcl. II makes some diff
terence 70 the planter whether he pays
>-'5o bale on MS cotton from Gal
weston to Liverpool, or $50 a bale. Our
people everywhere have awakened to
the situation. II was driven home 70
them in the early stages Of the war
when they found the freight rates
mounting ap TO 1000 per cent, and
their products loading down the
wharves and warehouses along tho
scaboard Of both coasts, on the Gull
and the Great Lakes, and unable 10
find any means Of getting these ship
ments 70 the markets where thew were
so badly needed. We can not afford
10 be put in that situation again"
Huge Grain Exports
From a report issued by the Depart
mcnt Of Agriculture covering the cx,
ports Of American grain for the month
OF December and part Of January, the
ships Of our new American merchant