New-York tribune., 1920-12-03
Motor Ships
Neglected in
Nation : Fleet
Que Vessel of This Tyre Out
of sbout Two Thosxsand
Constructed for Account
of the Shipping Board
Question Denmau Views
Opposition to Diesels Did
Not Come From Foreign
Sources. 1t Is Declared

The indication by William Denman,
rs, chairman OF the Shipping Board,
that i was motor ship and not a
wooden snip controversy that led to
me withdrawal of himself and Cen
eral George W. Goethals from the
boards activities brings 10 the fore
gain the question OF the value Of
internal combustion engines as fac
tor in marine Development. Opposi-
'.on 10 the equipment Of the govern
ment's wsr-buii, merchant fleet with
Internal combustion engines, accord :
irg TO Mr.. Denman. was the real cause
q. MS retirement.
How thoroughly elective the op-
POSITION seems to havs been is indi-
Gated by the fact that the Shipping
Boards entire feet of motor vessels
S composed OF one ship.
The remainder Of the feet Of about
200 vessels is equipped about evenly
with geared turbines and reciprocating
crsinas- Ine fabricated ships built at
the Hog Island and Submarine Boat
Corporation plants have geared tur-
.ircs. while the vessels constructed
n the Great Lakes and the Pacific
coast have reciprocating engines. In
he case OF the lake boats most OF
ihe engines were constructed by tn.
-hipbulders. Most OF the geared tur-
Oines were supplied by the General
Electric aud Westinghouse Electric
companies.
Cause Of Situation in Doubt
The intimatioa by Mr.. Denran that
political and foreign interests were
responsible Cor the shelving OF mo-
,or snip construction. chiefly with
lew % prevent the development Of the
american merchant marine, is regarded
eg shipping men as not taking into
~eRslde ration tie conditions under
Nn.ch the building Of the government
See. was begun.
Rsciprocatng engines and geared
turbines. they point out, were much
more readily obtainable thar Diesel
engines al me period Of this country's
sNtly INTO the war, and at that time
A'eEnai combustion engines were still
more or less an experiment. With
soeed of construction as the chief fac
or TO be obtained. they add, the engine
gNiPHent most readily obtainable was
re most desirable, and this doubtless
"aS Ine principal cause Of he shelly
.ng Of re motor shin
among those IN charge OF the gov
iai'enc 5 construction plans, however.
-AeIe were rndouttedly strong oppo-
tents o. The internal combustion en-
7-Ae' N'.t mis- was probably another
-@~se o. the scaHt consideration that
ne D-ese!s received. That foreign in
l1eAce played any part in the opposi-
ION, however, Is doubted by shipping
men, sor all the Allied nations we're
4hNlous 10 have America build ships as
@p!dly as possible and were regarding
ne situation solely from war stand
pom: and not with any reference to
marine competition after the war
Benson Favors Motor Ships
Nhi-e chairman OF the board Ed
Fard y. Hurley was strong advocate
= me motor ship. and the one specimen
9-A- Tor the board is equipped with
S-rmeister & VAIN DIESEL engines
'0ag1t b. MIN on his trip to Europe.
Admiral Benson, the present chair
nan, = another motor ship advocate
board ras 80 nearly reached compile
non tEat there Is 10 longer an oppor
,D7l.y Tor the government TO do much
n ne va Of securing any considerable
number OF vessels OF this type.
within the last two years, however,
great strides have been made in motor
mp construction and the economic
a-1e of this I ne OF tonnage has come
- be generally recognized. An in
~ r.r .Ir-. -. l,S
nc American Bureau of Shipping has
Us a.lsned the reoara'ion Of clas-
e-tcati0n rules for internal combustion
engine. q result Of conferences be-
t"esu tae technical committee OF the
bureau and represen ntatiVeS Of all the
eaglnY American marine engine build
. ers d number Of whom nave recently
fa1en up ne manufacture Of the Die
Sc type.
Eight Vessels Now Building
Although only one motor ship is
1-i.ding for the Shipping Board. seven
a'e nov under construction for private
@ecoun, in American saipyards.
These include two vessels Of 1900
-rross tors each for the Hawaiian
srericao Line, being built By t0e
iercnan- pogilcin1 Company at
'aester r. 4 4,259-for tanker is
1esaz tr1cted fc- the Standard OIL
'oaoa - California b the Moore
er ppg. ting Company. and q l,s50-to
,s.Eer for me same interests b. the
Ton Cons.ructlon Company. The
Io1c Dfy Doc< Construction Company
| aas 3,t0-ton fre!2nter under way
rr ne Alaska Steamship Company.
ne o.aer two vesscls are small
earr.era. Dne ~ beng built by the
Hetoienen So' po9i.d.ng Corporation at
+ .A.<.Sr
~ tae Standard OIL Company Of Sen
J fers. ard ne otaer b.. the Pacific
'raft Do1. .1iny Company for tho
*.scc.a-er DI Company.
|, Foreign Trade Notes