Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1919-05-29
May Sc GREATEST
MARITIME POWER.

l. f.-tsif a.
Shipbuilding Facilities Now Put
U. S. in Lead.
| MERCHANT Marine TO STAY
Hurley Is Convinced America Can
outstrip All Other Nations in Re-
placing Lost Tonnage United
States Will Require Fleet of $780,
600 Tons to Carry Commerce Esti.
mated for 1920.
Shipbuilding facilities acquired dur
ing the war have made the United
States the greatest potential maritime
power of the world, asserts Chairman
g. N. Hurley Of the shipping board
and will enable it to outdistance all
other nations in the race toward re-
placing a shortage of 16225,000 gross
tons of shipping lost as the result of
unrestricted German submarine war;
fare. and of the failure of normal in
crease by new production Mr.. Hur-
ley made this assertion in a
report of his trip to Europe, where
for three months he was in close touch
with the shipping interests of foreign
nations. The report will be used in
working out a policy of ownership
and operation of the American mer-
chant marine.
Mr.. Hurley estimated that in July,
1914, the seagoing steam bottoms Of
the world totaled Al, 225,000 gross
tons, which was reduced by war to
37,000,0e0 gross tons, a net loss of
4,225,000 gross tons In addition, he
stated, there was a loss of 12,000,000
gross tons which would have been con-
structed if war had not stopped the
normal increase in production, max
ing a total loss of 16.225,000 gross
a total loss by enemy action, marine
risk, and capture of 15.21S,000 gross
tons, Mr.. Hurley said, and gained by
new construction and seizure of en-
envy ships 14,249,000 gross tons, leav-
ing a net loss of 100000 gross tons.
The net loss to the central powers was
even greater, since they lost 100000
gross tons and gained only 100000, a
difference of 2,276,00O gross tons,
United States Takes Lead.
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 % per cent, Mr.. Hurley re-
ported while the United States jumped
far in the lead with net gain of
125 per cent.
sThe United States forged ahead
as rapidly as Germany fell behind"
said the report. SIN August, 1914,
the United States seagoing merchant
marine, 800 gross tons and over, in
cluded 624 steamers of 1,T5s.465. gross
tons, and $40 sailing vessels and
schooner barges of 947.s52s gross tons,
making grand total of / 4994 seagoing
merchant vessels OF 2,706,317 gross
tons. On November H., 1918, at the
end of the war, the steamgoing mer-
chant marine had increased to 1,366
vessels of 4,6S5,2G3 gross tons and the
sailing vessels and schooner barges
had decreased to TAT vessels of $780,
OF gross tons making a grand total
of 2,113 seagoing merchant vessels Of
5,515,1S0 gross tons. This does not in
clude the seized enemy vessels, which
at the end of the war aggregated IS
vessels of 562005 gross tons, of which
number 81 of 546,210 gross tons We're
steamers and seven of 1875 gross
tons were sailing vessels.
1.-THE total constructioniin the United
States added to the merchant marine
during the war amounted to S75 yes
sells of 2,941,S45 gross tons. The pur-
S333, S54 gross tons, the movement from
the great lakes to the ocean of &c
steamers of 139,469 gross tons, and
miscellaneous acquisitions amounting
| to 81 vessels of 1920 gross TONS are
other sources Of ACQUISITION. The loss
of ia vessels of 322,214 gross tons
by enemy action, of 27S vessels of 405,-
400 gross tons by marine risk, Of $50
vessels of 26S,149 gross tons by sale
to aliens, and of GA vessels of 1921
! gross tons through the sale TO the
United States government, abandon
ment and other causes, accounts for
the decreases. Losses of fifteen Ger
/ man and requisitioned ships amount
4 ing to 112,24S gross tons are not in
GUIDED
To-day we are potentially the great
4 est maritime power of the earth, for
4 the reason that we possess the great,
est shipbuilding instrumentalities.'
All Try to Come Back.