Bisbee daily review., 1919-03-25

war have made the United States the greatest potential maritime power of the world, asserts Chairman E. N. Hurley of the shipping board, and will enable it to Outdistanee all other na- tions in the race toward replacing a shortage of 16,225,0O0 gross tons of shipping lost as the result of unre- stricted German submarine warfare and of the failure of normal increase by new production
 Mir Hurley made this assertion to- day in a report of his trip to Europe, where for three months he was in close touch with the shipping inter ests of foreign nations The report will be used in working out a policy of ownership and operation of the American merchant marine.
 MT. Hurley estimated that in July. 1914, the sea-going steam bottoms of the world tOtaled 41.225, ,00O gross tons. which was reduced by war to 37,00O,- 900 gross tons, a net loss of 4,225,- 900 gross tons. In addition, he stated, there was a loss of 12,OO0,000 gross tons which would have been con structed if war had not stopped the OAA-Ae-A A---- HI HAOAnNLAOAAf a total loss of 16,225,0OO gross tons.
 Net Loss 969, ,oo0 Tons.
 The allies and neutrals suffered a total loss by enemy action. marine risk and capture of 15,21S,O00 gross tons, MT. Hurley said, and gained by Lew construction and seizure of en- eny ships l. 5sJ GOO gross tons, leav- s~,-- oE The net loss to the Central Powers was even greater since they lost 3,016,000 gross tons and gained only TAO 900, difference of 2,270, 900 gross tons.
 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 9 per cent, MT. Hurley re ported, while the United States jump ed far in the lead with a net gain of 125 per cent
 '@The United States forged ahead as rapidly as Germany fell behind,'' said the report. Tn August. 1914, the United States seagOing merchant ma rine, 500 gross tons and over, incIud- ed 624 steamers of 1,75S, ,463 gross tons and S70 sailing vessels and schooner barges of S47,S52, gross tons, making a grand total of 1.494 seagoing merchant vessels of 2,7O6,317 gross tons.
 Seized Vessels.
 "On November II, 1918, at the end O fthe war, the steam-going merchant marine had increased to 1866 vessels of 4,6S5 ,26S gross tons and the sailing vessels and schooner baTges had de creased to TAT vessels of S29, ,917 gross tons, making a grand total of 211S seagoing merchant vessels of 5,515- 1S0 gross tons.
 "This does not include the seized enemy vessels, which at the end of the war aggregated SS vessels of 562,- 005 gross tons, of which number SI of 546,210 gross tons were steamers and seven of 15,795 tons were sailing vessels
 The total construction in the Unit ed States added to the merchant ma inc during the war amounted to S75 vessels of 2,911,S45 gross tons. The purchase from aliens of 233 vessels of SS3,S54 gross tons the movement from the Great Lakes t othe ocean of 66 steamers of 139,469 gross tons. and miscellaneous acquisitions amounting to 31 vessels fo 39. .2l9 gross tons are other sources of acqui sitiOn.
 Losses During War.
 The loss of IA vessels of 322. .214 gross tons by enemy action. of PTS vessels of 405, 400 gross tons by ma. rine risk, of 130 vessels of 26S.14e gross tons by sale to aliens and of GA vessels of 149,761 gross tons through the sale of the United States govern. ment abandonment and other causes accounts for the decreases. Losses of l5 German and requisitioned ships amounting to 112,24S gross tons are not included.
 Today we are potentially the great est maritime power Ok the earth, for the"eason that we possess the great est shipbuilding instrumentalities.
 MT. Hurley stated that Great Brf tain suffered a net loss in the wal of 3,44S,0O0 gross tons, amounting to IS per cent of her entire tonnage Other nations which suffered heavy losses include Norway, which lost 1,17S,SS5 gross tons; France, 9O7,16s gross tons; Italy ,S52,124 tons; Greece SS7,545 gross tons; Denmark, 2S9. .92z gross tons, and Sweden, POI, ,733.
 All Ambitious.
 Every effort is being made by each of these nations, MT. Hurley asserted to regain thei rformer maritime stand ing.
 'The study of the shipping board experts revealed a teeming ambition among other powers to achieve a high. CT maritime standing" said the re port. '1n almost every country the desire exists not only to replace war losses, but to add new totals to be used in the work of reconstruction and in developing new foreign trade.
 Even Switzerland bac Dot .ecooDa5