New-York tribune., 1920-12-16

between the declaration of war and the
time when our men were ready for
hostilities 95 per cent of their supplies,
including munitions, were carried over
seas in American bottoms. Approx
mately as per cent Of our fighting men
went over in American bottoms. That
is about million men sailed overseas
ir our ships.
1t required the terrible World War
to force us to q realization Of the
great international responsibilities our
population and wealth entail. The work
which / did during the war brought
me in close touch with the manifold
problems of the Shipping Board during
those hours when the worlds fate was
being decided
Gladly would and do pledge myself
to help see that not only my own but
other governments be brought to a
absolutely from ocean carriage which
could only mean uneven competition
with the private owner. We are en-
deavoring to do this as quickly as pos
sible, and the law demands it.
Other Nations Not Menaced
The magnitude of our effort in world
shipping may seem to spell disaster
to other nations. But it should not
We are only making up for the world
slack in shipping brought on by the
deadly work of the submarine. BY
force Of world emergencies we have
had to replace the enemy whose proud
position in maritime fields was wrested
from her by the splendid work of our
allies with whom we fought during
the most deadly part of the war.
Figures are unnteresting as a rule,
but l must submit them in order to
-, fot 1x,%,o 60 0f
conditions. An analysis of Shipping
Board activities in export and import
trade for the fiscal year ended June
80, 1920, will be helpful.
rerume Of the activities Of Ship
ping Board vessels shows that during
the fiscal year these vessels carried
exports Of 1879 ,234 tons and imports
of 7,236,168 tons, total of 90
615,402 tons, through forty-nine Unit
ed States ports. In this connection it
is noted that "a per cent G,720, 1888
tons) Of the imports consisted Of crude
petroleum. Exports we're forwarded
were received at thirty-one ports
Twenty-six of these ports handled over
81 per cent (20,079,b74 tons; exports
12,959,802 tons; imports, 7,119,772
tons) of the entire tonnage moved.
The total cocumented seagoing mer-
chant marine of the United States 600
gross tons and over), on October /, 1920
consisted of 1882 vessels of 11,70S,3 ,342
gross tons, or approximately 17,562,513
deadweight tons. Of this total the
Shipping Board now owns 1897 vessels
of 6,8e2,54s gross tons, equivalent to
10,293,308 deadweight tons.
Distribution of Tonnage
The tonnage of active vessels at pres
ent controlled by the Shipping Board
exclusive of the vessels operated by
the army and navy and under bare boat
and time charter, are distributed in
the various trades as follows: In north
European, 9 per cent; in African, per
cent; in transpacific, II per cent; in
South America, Is per cent; in West
Indies and Caribbean, 8 per cent; do
nestic service, per cent, and operat-
ing between foreign ports, per cent.
Of the steel vessels owned by the
Shipping Board engaged in these serv-
ices $50 are operating from North At
lantic ports, 80 from South Atlantic
ports, 229 from Gulf ports, 1872 from
Pacific ports, 80 are employed in coast
wise service, So are operating between
foreign ports and 113 are at present
unallocated to any designated berth
liner service. These latter virtually con-
stitute the tramp service Of the feet.
(This is tho fourth Of series OF
articles on the outlook for the merchant
marine. In to-morro,0's article J. Parker
Kirlin, well known authority on ad-
miralty lnaU. 1UiU discuss ho1V American
shipping can meet tho handicap of high