The New York herald., 1921-03-25
AID FLEET OR PAY
LATER, SAYS BENSON
Admiral Sees Danger Of For
cioners Boosting Rates if 0ur
Vessels Drop Out.
WARNS or PROPAGANDA
Tells Press Club Audience
Enemies Of Commercial
Navy Are at Work.
WARNS or PROPAGANDA

Tic pr, lule-s and manufacturers anu
merchant 81 The United states may take
the word ST Rear admiral W S. Benson
Ior IL that Il they do not give their cup
port 70 the fleet OF American merchant
ships created by the United States Shin-
ping Board during the war they will pa
through the rose later on to the foreign
ship owners. who. Il American tonnage
diminishes, Will charge their own freight
rates for the cargoes which viii pc
Snipped 10 and from hurorS when the
world has adjusted itself.
Admiral Benson. as chairman Of the
Shipping. Board stressed this point es-
pecially last night in a talk on Ameri-
can shipping which he gave at the New
York Press Club, and in which he went
over the history and facts Of American
cargoes on the sea from the beginning
Of American maritime activity TO the
present. His talk was illustrated by =
series of motion pictures. which are TO
bc shown all over the country in cam
paign which is afoot to interest the
reaple Of the United States in their
commercial navy.
lie said that there were three main
points which every citizen Of this coun-
try should keep in mind when he thought
~ mercantile shipping at all, and par
ticlIlarly when his ears We're assaiei by
guv expressions of a propaganda--which
ADMIRAL Benson insists is going on
which has for its object the depression
~ faith in our merchant marine ana
enthusiasm for its future. The three
points he made were: That the United
states was as great force in the last
war as it was largely through the
freighter fleet which carried the supplies
10 the army. and that the vessels built
and managed by the Shipping Board
have more than paid their way. and that
without the support of Americans they
viii disappear from American registry,
In the war Just over. he explained.
this country had the assistance OF pow
crful maritime allies. but in another war
might, and very probably would. have to
stand alone. As to the ability Of Amer
ican ships to pay their way, he pointed
cut that out Of the profits which Ship
nmg Board vessels piled up during the
war they are still ahead OF the game
as money earners, and can well afford
TO lie idle If necessary until times pick
IN and freights begin moving afresh.
AS to the prices which foreign shippers
ore likely to charge Americans If they
have no ships or their own. Admiral
Benson contented himself with calling
attention to the combinations OF foreign
snip owners.
Abroad. he explained there are
working arrangements between shir
owners of various countries by which
they agree on prices and freight rates
and by which they would stand firmly
II they had the field Of the worlds ship
ping virtually to themselves. From his
Immediate knowledge Of snip move
nents. declared. he was certain that
ina depression in ocean carrying was at
It's lowest level. and that from now for
ward an American merchant marine was
bound to justify itself absolutely.
He concluded by asking all American
producers to think the situation we'll
over and wherever possible TO make Z
4 point OF patriotism to ship only In
American bottoms.