New-York tribune., 1921-05-27
Motor Ship Is
Urged as Aid Inn
Marine Crisis
Naval Architects Discuss
Failure of Government
20 Keep Pace With New
Trend in Shipbuilding

The small share given to the motor
.sin Ia the government's construction
cssersm was emphasized by John f.
ssetten. supCfintending engineer of The
William Cramp & Sons Ship and En-
sine Building Company. in an address
srsparea in collaboration with j. c.
Shaw aud delivered at n special meet
i've ef the Society Of Naval Architects
ons Marine Engineers held last night
u IN, Engineering Building.
Although the Shipping Board i'm 1918
nfsere6 hfty-two Diesel engines built
4 tke United States, il subsequently,
.snceled orders for twenty-six Of
tssss. Of the remainder some have
Neon sold and some are still in hand.
lst no attempt has been made TO use
tssn in any of the ships built or build
no for the board.
While no specific reference was made
"a this in the address, It was pointed
ont how this country is tagging be
lied other maritime nations in acQuir-
;ss motor ship tonn2go and the danger
4 sech a courso.
Diesel Not a Full Solution
sTAe fell IN ocean freight rates in
rtseta months to pre-war levels IL
gss stated should bring forcibly to
sac attention Of American snip owners
tbs great economic Importance Of the
itterna combustion engine for ship
prenulsion, although il Is not claimed
that the Diesel engine is Il complete
remedy for the present predicament of
he American merchant marine,
sThe situation in which american
,sipping now finds itself is analogous
n the early transition from sail to
siearn. The country then failed to
seep pace with Great Britain, which
gained lesd which was only partly
srsreorle. due 20 the condition brought
about by tine late wsr
"In the recent shipbuilding emer~
esney efficiency Of type was eubordi-
satsa TO the eNpediency Of rapid con
struction and quantity production.
Many warnings were sounded TO those
IN authority 40 the tjlae in regard to
the danger OF entirely ignoring the
lsrrsr motor ship In the emergency
construction However, this defect in
haildme could have been greatly
rsmsaied hy recastine the uncom-
plsted program Immediately after the
sfmisslce, as carried out by other
cegntries. n meet the inevitable COM
pstitive conditions Of peace.
Other Nations Forge Ahead
"Centrasted with cur past policy in
reference to motor ships is that of
Great britain and the Scandinavian
countries in particular. which fostered
.he motor ship during the war, and
ynca the arnistiee two and a half
Years ago have rapidly built motor
saips almost TO the exclusion Of the
less efficient steam cargo vessels.
As matters now stand we find our
sslyes In the possession of large
government owned fleet. almost wholly
steaih driven. which private owners are
feluctant to purchase or operate. The
question, accordingly, Is presented to
Us as naval architects and marine engi-
Hsers. IS 70 the hest lethod by which
the iuadequacy OF the situation can be
pet, whether to advocate the conver-
sian Of tho most inefficient of the eX-
isting steam vessels to Diesel drive or
build new motor ships and the best
systems 10 be recommended"
Tables were given showing the
teoacmic advantages of the motor yes
sa over the steamship.