Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1919-03-23
i. S. TO Be GREATEST MARITIME
POWER, SAYS HURLEY IN REPORT

WASHINGTON, Mar. 81 Shipbuiid-
ing facilities acquired during the war
have made the United States the great
est potential power of the wtr'd as
serts Chairman E. n Hurley OF the
Shipping Board and will enable It TO
outdistanca all other nations in thc
race towarl replacing a shortage OF
1925 900 gross tons Of shippsng lost
as the result of unrestricted German
submarine warfare and of the failure
of normal ircrea Sc by new production.
Mr.. Hurley made this assertion to
day in a report of his trip to Europe
where for three N onths he was in close
touch with the Shipping interests of
foreign nations. The report will be
used in working out a policy of own
ership and operation of the American
Merchant Marine.
Mr.. Hurley estimated that in July,
1914, the sea-going steam bottoms of
the world totaled Al, 225, 900 gross tons
which was reduced by war to 37,000,-
900 gross tons, a net loss of APPS, 900
gross tons. In addition, he stated, war
had not stopped the normal increase
in production, making a total loss of
16,225,000 gross tons.
The Allies and Eeutrals suffered a
total loss by enemy action, marine
risk and capture of 15,218,000 gross
tons, Mr.. Hurley said, and gained by
new construction and seizure % enemy
ships 14,249,0O gross tons, leaving a
net loss of 100000 gross IONS The
net loss to the Central Powers was
even greater since they lost 3,016,000
gross tons and gained only 100000, a
difference of 2,276,Q0O gross tons.
Only two countries, the United
States and Japan, have a larger a.
mount of tonnage now than when the
war began. Japan showed a net gain
of 20 per cent, Mr.. Hurley reported
while the United States jumped far in
the lead with a net gain of 1875 per
cent
The United States forged anead
as rapidly as Germany fell behind, !"
said the report, I'm August, 1914, the
United States seagoing merchant
marine, 500 gross tons and over, in
cluded GA steamers of 1,758 ,465 gross
tons, and $40 sailing vessels and
schooner barges of 947,S52 gross tons,
making grand total of 494 seago-
ing merchant vessels of 2,7O6,317
gross tons.
ION November IL, 1918, at the end
of the war, the steam going merchant
marine had increased to 1866 vessels
of 4,685,263 gross tons and the sailing
vessels and schooner barges had de-
creased to TAI vessels of S29,917 gross
tons. making a grand total of 2113
seagoing merchant vessels of 5,515,-
1870 gross tons.
'This does not include the seized
enemy vessels, which at the end Of
the war aggregated SO vessels of 562,-
OO5 gross tons, of which number 81
of 546,21O gross tons were steamers
and seven of 1876 gross tons were
sailing vessels.
THE total construction in the United
States added to the merchant marine
during the war amounted to S75 yes
sells of 2,94,1845 gross tons. The pur-
chase from aliens of 233 vessels of
S33,S45 gross tons, the move
ment from the Great Lakes to the
ocean of &C steamers of 1885, 400 gross
tons, and miscellaneous acquisitions
amounting to 81 vessels of 80, 219
gross tons are other sources of ac-
QUESTION.
THE loss of ia vessels of 322,214
gross tons by enemy action, of 27S
vessels of 405 400 gross tons by mar
inc risk, of 1870 vessels of 26S, 149 gross
tons by sale to aliens and of "a vessels
of 1917 gross tons through the sale
abandonment and other causes, ac-
counts for the decreases. Losses of
Is German and requisitioned ships