Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-02-07
1T. COM. RALPH W. DEMPWolF

TNIIE advantages and opportunities Tor
i young men entering the United States
merchant marine are greater today ana inc
romance and call Of the sea is Just as
strong as it ever was, IN the Epin,nh VI
lieutenant Commander Ralph W. Dcmp,,
wolf of the United States Coast Guard and
commanding officer of the pennsylvania
schoolship Annapolis.
The Importance OF the merchant marine
of the United States. apparent us early
as 1870: the frenzied building of ships in
the United States during the world war
and the necessity for Americans to man
and officer these ships: the need Tor proper
legislation and laws affecting both shlnS anu
men and the endeaVorS thas s''"Ei" ,,ope ~
made TO retain the greatest fleet OF me!
chant ships that has ever flown the Amcrl-
can flag is emphasized by Lieutenant Demp'
wolf.
''The opportunities for young men are
greater today than ever before i'll the mcf
chant marine. We have fine feet ana
ships cannot run without officers ana crew.
There are other advantages for young men
with sea training They Grc in demand anu
useful in almost every line directly cohhet'ru
with shipping and the merchant mum; n1ar;n:
Graduates Of the state nautical schooishll'H
are eligible to appointment as enSlSnS III n 'he
naval reserve without examination, ny NY
are occupying important ana reSPonS'pc
positions with steamship companies. SNIP
yards and in government ana state ne''' ''''''
Aliens Commanded Ships in War
"Durinc the world war vessels We're built
So fast that officers, especially United states
citizens were not numerous enough 10 sup
plyBthe demand. TO meet this emergency
alien merchant officers were licensed TO com
mand and officer United states VcSSe's
These were called red ink licenses. inns
procedure was a violation of the Navigation
| laws of the United States. but the broad
| scope of war authority permitted these aliens
| TO officer our vessels. Steps are being taken
to revoke all such licenses ana nave the
| placcs filled by citizens.
'"ro insure n constant supply or onlcers
| for the merchant marine, various states
| namely. Massachusetts, New York, Penn
| sylvania and Washington. have made ap-
| nropriations and operate and maintain state
| schoolships. Young men, between seventeen
| and twenty years Of age, whose parents are
| citizens are eligible to enter these schools
| and they receive q thorough training Tor two
years in navigation scamanShp and engl /,
| neering thus fitting them I" become thlrd
| officers or third assistant engineers.
! 'INhc state Of Pennsylvania, through the
personal efforts of the Governor and the
maritime interests Of Philadelphia, has re-
| Established the PENNSYLVANIA nautical school
ship. The L. $. $. Annapolis was turned
over to the state on April |, 1920, and il
now in commission and in active operation
ns a nautical school. with about sixty young
mon on board, who are receiving instruction
| in Navigation, NculhhHNhIp' Slcull tllBlHtci
ing and other subjects, which will fit Their
| to Obtain licenses as officers. The course o.
training is two years. During this tim'
| cruises are made to foreign and domestic
ports.
| vounq men who desire to follow the sea
| tts a1xnntages are many. 1t is as profitable
as nany other walks OF life, and no mor
hazardous. Visiting foreign countries tend
70 broaden their vision OF life and prepare
them for the future.
! ''The Pennsylvania nautical SchoolShp i
| under the supervision of the Board of Com
| missioncTs Of Navigation in the BOurs
building, Philadelphia;
"Orr Young men have not in the pas
hocn indifferent to the advantages of a sea
, For;no life. The romance and call Of tn
sea is lust as strong today as it has been il
tbe mast Many. ii not all, of the hard
shiua have been eliminated, with the Tp6ul
that Young men can rise to an officers bert
or command in comparatively short time.
tt0ur merchant marine Of today Is tn
LARGEST and most valuable in the entire his
low of our country. Let us, by prope
iog;sIetion and laws affecting both ships an
men. make every cndeaYor to retain our mag
,'iGrcnt fleet of merchantmen We hear
great deal OF talk about foreign competitio
ethat we cant compete with foreign vessels
7 believe that II Congress so desires an
Iyould heed the advice of practical steam
shin men, some method of solution will /
found to keep our ships in operation.
might even require some drastic actor
such as exporting American goods in Ameri
. | can ships. tonnage dues on foreign vosso
! OF, possibly, agtLoGlzlAg u suitable aIUsiu.