The sun., 1919-02-05

several million gross tons OF shipping
much OF 1t written of as lost, and there
fore an important addition to the total
OF British tonnage.
Vessels transferred to naval service
during the war may be an additional
factor II increasing mercantile tonnage.
Ships bdilt for the navy but not used
for fighting purposes are also to be
considered. Great Britain. for instance
10 understood to have built a number
OF flne tankers. which can be turned into
the ocean carrying trade.
Central Powers Tonnage.
| And this applies also In the case Of
the disposition OF the merchant tonnage
OF the Central Powers X the Peace
Conference decides It should be dis
trtouted proportionately among the ma
| tons whose vessels were sunk during
| the war
No authenticated figures are avail
| able as to the amount OF shipping left
in enemy hands. The Cologne Gazette
states Germany Is still the 'owner" of
100000 gross tons of merchant ships
out OF pre-war sotal Of b.5oo,ooo tons.
| OF the amount still claimed, however. II
is stated $4,000 tons have been confs-
Gated by neutrals for their own uses.
| that 100000 tons lie untouched in neu-
trail countries and $4,000 tons handed
over to the Allies under the armistice.
| The return OF the separate amounts
given is, at best. problematical. bu;
granting that Germany has tho $780,
900 tons claimed. and a net gain OF
| 0osette to have been effected through
building during the war. Germany
would have 100000 tons. With the
addition OF an estimated 100000 tons
for Austria and Turkey the Central
Powers aggregate would be 5000. 900
tons On a division proportionate to
loss America would receive 6 per cent.
or only 100000 tons against Great Brit
aims 100000 tons, representing her so
per cent. OF the worlds sea losses during
| the war.
One heavy handicap under which
American ships must labor in competi-
| ton with those OF other nations is our
present system of marine laws. The La
Toilette Seamen's Act requires that rs
| per cent OF tho crew must be able to
understand the words Of command rpo-
ken in English. This practically bars
the use Of cheap Asiatic labor used SC
| and has made II impossible to compete
| with Japan on the PacinL.
1t has been said that the Seamen's
| act has brought freedom 10 the sailor
in that Il permits him to draw his pay
and leave the ship at any port he
chooses. How this provision operate:
| against the ship owner Is not gener-
ally realized. II the crew is reduced
10y the dropping out Of sailors TO a
point below that required by the Amer
lean law the vessel must remain in port
at heavy expense until enough mer
have been obtained to make up the def
| cheney. The hardship Is especially sc
we're in the small ports OF the Orient
| where IL II almost impossible to get any
but Asiatic labor. The American ship.
ping laws also make It necessary fol-
American ships to carry larger am
more costly crews than those require
by other nations
Higher net measurements imposed
upon steamships at American ports thar
| those appearing on the European regis.
ters OF such ships have long been the
subject Of complaint on the part Of
American shipping men. So too. have
| the requirements on inspection tests
And still another burden Is the absence
OF compulsory load line. which cause,
q higher insurance rate. Underwater,
contend tina. American ships aiwHy,
carry 10 per cent more deadwelgh
than they would be allowed to load un
der British load line regulations. anc
rates are fixed accordingly. owing 20 IL;
supposed risk OF overlooking. But thes.
are only q few Of the conditions operat
ing against American shipping
Americas path 10 sea supremacy
then, IL a troubled one. Mr.. Hurley
has accumulated a set OF theories fondly
hoped to obviate many OF the difticultiel
confronting the new mercantile marine
and Secretary Daniels and Mr.. McAdot
have added not few OF their own How
these will work out will be seen later.
But a greater handicap than any lie,
In the difference between the costs o.
operating American and other shipping
Unless some means is found to ofYse
this the new merchant marine mus
prove to be not an asset but heavy liza
bility.