The Bemidji daily pioneer., 1919-04-21
May BE- GREATEST
MARITIME power
Shipbui|ding Facilities Now Put
U. S. in Lead.
MERCHANT MARINE TO STAY
Hurley 10 Convinced America Can
outstrip All Other Nations in Re-
placing Lost Tonnage - United
States VIII Require Fleet Of 7,soo,-
900 Tons to Garry Commerce esfi'
mated for 1920.

States VIII Require Fleet o1 f'ovo''
900 Tons to Garry Commerce esfi'
mated for 1920.
Shipbuilding facilities acquired dur
ing the war have made the Unite6
States the greatest potential maritime
power of the world, asserts Chairman
e. N. Hurley Of the shipping board,
and will enable it to outdistance all
other nations in the race toward re-
placing a shortage of 16,225,OOO gross
tons of shipping lost as the result OK
unrestricted German submarine war
fare and of the failure Of normal in
crease by new production. Mr.. Hur
ley made this assertion IN
z eport 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 41,225,OOO gross
tons, which was reduced by war to
100000 gross tons, a net loss OF
&.225,OOO gross tons. In addition, he
stated, there was a loss of 12.OOO,OOO
gross tons which would have been con-
structed If war had not stopped the
normal Increase In production, max
Ing q total loss of 1925, 600 gross
tons, The allies and neutrals suffered
a total loss by enemy action, marine
risk, and capture of l5,NS,OOO gross
tons, Mr.. Hurley said, and gained by
new construction and seizure Of en-"
t~ry ships 14,249,OOO gross tons, lenv-
f fsny- a net loss of $4,000 gross tons.
The net loss to the central powers was
even greater, since they lost 3,O16.OOU
GROSS tons and gained only 74O,OCO, a
r difference Of 3,276.00O 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 rs per cent, Mr.. Hurley re-
ported, while the United States jumped
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. I'm August, 1914.
the United States seagoing merchant
marine, 800 gross tons and over. in
cluded 624 steamers Of 1.75S,4 ,465 gross
tons, and $40 sailing vessels and
schooner barges of 7,852 gross tons.
making a grand total Of 1,494 seagoing
merchant vessels Of 2,706,317' gross
tons. On November Ii, 1913, at the
end Of the war, the steamgoing mer-
chant marine had increased to 1886
vessels of 4,6S5, ,263 gross tons and the
ssffing vessels and schooner barges
. had decreased to TAT vessels of $780,
917 gross tons, making a grand total
Of 2,113 seagoing merchant vessels Of
5,515.1SO gross tons. This does not in
clude the seized enemy vessels, which
at the end Of the war aggregated 81
vessels Of 582,OO5 gross tons. Of which
number 81 of 546,21O gross tons were
steamers and seven Of 1898 gross
tons were sailing vessels.
1.-THE total construction in the United
States added to the merchant marine
during the war amounted to S75 YES
sells of 2,941,845 gross tons. The pur-
chase from aliens of 233 vessels Of
S33,S54 gross tons, the movement from
the great lakes to the ocean Of 66
steamers Of 139,469 gross tons, and
miscellaneous acquisitions amounting
to 81 vessels of 39,219 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 13O
vessels OF 26S149 gross tons by sale
\ % aliens, and of "a vessels Of 1927
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
Ing to 112,24S gross tons are not in
cluded.
To-day we are potentially the great
est maritime power Of the earth, Tor
the reason that we possess the great
est shipbullding tnstrumentalities."
Al Try to Come Back.
Mr.. Hurley stated that Great Brit
ain suffered q net loss in the war Of
S,443,OOO gross tons, amounting to 1S
per cent Of her entire tonnage Other
nations which suffered heavy losses
include Norway. which lost 1,1T8.335
gross tons; France, e07,16s gross tons; ;
yfaiv. $40 124 gross tons: Greece, 337.-