Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1920-12-16
NAVY WILL HAVE
BIG TONNAGE IN
ANOTHER YEAR
Tonnage in 1922 Will Total
That of All Countries
Except England.

Washington, Dec. 16.--With COM
pletion Of the government shipbuild-
ing program by 1922, the United
States probably will-have as much
ocean going tonnage as all the other
countries combined, with the excep-
ton of Great Britain, Chairman Ben
SON of the shipping board declared in
his annual report.
At the end Of the last fiscal year
ehe chairman said American merchant
ships, government and private owned,
numbered 3,4O4. of 16,918,212 dead
weight tons, not including more than
100000 tons of shipping Of the Great
Lakes. The net program Of govefh-
ment owned ships. Admiral Benson
said, contemplated 2,315 vessels Of
13,675,711 lightweight tons and at the
end of the last fiscal year 1910 ships
aggregating 11,622,3s1 lightweight
tong. had been completedes., sa.i *
During the year 1,1SVe hnfshedA Slips
Of ~9.379,823 NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Were de.
livered, exceeding all records They
were built without overtime or other
aids to rapid production. Admiral
Benson said. =
1.-The shipyard workers Of the
United States have developed an : tx
pertness which has raised the eff
ficiency Of the various crafts to a
high plane and production has kept
pace accordingly" Admiral Benson
said. The industry has expanded 50,-
900 skilled mechanics to a force Of
1850 men available to the private
s%hipyards, he added.
1.-The credit for the accomplishment
of the aims of h emergency, fleet
is therefore due to these
men who have surpassed all previous
performances in the shipbuilding Of
the world,' he said.
American vessels are now sailing in
229 separate services. They carried
44.S per cent Of the nations foreign
commerce" last year as compared with
81 per cent before the war, the re-
port said.
The government fleet in operation
June 80 consisted Of 1924 steel yes
sells plying to all quarters of the globe,
including sos to northern Europe and
126 to southern Europe. In the
trans-Pacific service there were 1853
vessels and in South America, 1873.
:Forty-one direct service lines have
been established in South and Central
lantic coast, four on the gulf and two
on the Pacific coast, the report said.
II To cope with the formidable prob
lens overseas, Admiral Benson said
the European organization of the
shipping board with headquarters in
london was established in June, 1919.
Prior to it's creation board vessels in
European ports had been attended
entirely bv the gents OF the manar-
ing companies. the report said. whom
either through fneficiency, indtNer.
ence or dishonesty, allowed American
ships to be mishandled and subjected
to DELAYS and exorbitant.charRcs."
The new DETERMINATION, Srhrough its
control over moyement. charter. car
goes. bunkers. supplias, repairs a
similar matters. the report explained.
has reducedAthes average turn around
Of board vessels from ,25.4 days for
Great Britain ana 10 DAYS Tor the
continent IA September. 1914. to 1872
DAYS FOR Great Britain and ia davs
for the Continent in Nav. 1920. Costs
have been materially reduced,
lChairman Renaon added.
The board sold during the year 42s:
ships for 4 total Of ss7aA14.sS1. IN
cludina TAI new steel cargo vessels
a. new wooda ahins ana "A ror,nsr
German cargo ghins.
Discussine the rrnoden naat, chair.
man Renson said fhe n,srirnn,n mr.:
Der in @oneration was I'D dnr;nr Anrii
In June there wers 10 - wnri isa
Demand Tor tanker TONNAGE In