New-York tribune., 1922-05-10
Adequate Navy.
Good Business,
COontz Asserts
Operations Chief Tells
Country's Manufacturers
Sea Forces Keep Open
Markets for L. S. Exports
Urges Ship Subsidy Plan
Would Save Millions Paid
to Foreign Owners of
Vessels. Admiral Saws

Admiral Robert f. Coontz, chief oi
the Bureau Of Naval Operations, told
members Of the National Association OF
Manufacturers at their annual dinner
at the Waldorf Astoria last night why
the United States should maintain an
adequate navy in time of peace as well
as in war
He urged his point mainly as a good
business investment, asserting that our
sea forces keep an open market
throughout the world for about $4,000.
900 annual American exports. and
| that $300.O0O,oOo a year expended !,
maintaining navy serves the dual pur-
pose OF insurance in peace and fight
ing force in WAY
He urged subsidy for the American
merchant marine. 50 that millions of
dollars spent annually for foreign bot
toms may go into our own shipyards
and factories.
iouchlng on recent happenings of
international import Admiral Coontz
SAID 1T was popular fallacy to thing
DGlIUlnG
Will bring great reduction in taxes.
The cost for the whole navy. if Con-
gress hppropriates $500, 900 ,O0OO for if.
VIII be less than SO per capita, he point
ed. out, adding that if this we're e]jmi-
mated it would mean little 10 the aver-
age person
Doubts Wars Disappearance
sight study of history. too. he as
serted, WAS sufficient to indicate tha,
disarmament Will not prevent war. II
ali the powers in the world sank everv
SNIP IN existence and war broke out.
he SAID. the merchant ships would be
!mmedlately turned into men of war.
Aomira! Coontz dwelt al length on
the nations foreign trade. detailing IFS
work IN the past in opening foreign
ports to American commerce, and in
the present protecting American in
terests in every sea
He said that the power Of the United
states as great nation did not rest
on the strength of fighting ships. but
on all the other elements which enter
INTO the support of great navy, en-
phasIzing that it was vital for the gov
ernment TO develop the merchant
marine and naval bases if this coun
try desired to be real sea power.
Points to Example Abroad
On the subsidy and other questions
he said:
Many think that if we grant n sub-
sidy to our merchant marine we are
giving money needlessly to our shin
owners. If we export products valued
ut some $4,000, ,oO0,o 900 annually and
ship this great quantity of material
in foreign bottoms, we are obviously
paying thousands of dollars in freight
charges to foreign shipowners This
money then goes to foreign shipbuild-
ers. foreign shipyard workers and to
foreigners in all walks Of life.
"Other great powers have found if
necessary to subsidize their merchant
marine in order to build up NOR
chant feet Why do we not profit bv
their example and subsidize our mer-
chantmen in order that we NAV spend
millions of dollars annually in our own
shipyards and in our own factories ."
Representative J. Stanley Webster.
Of Washington. spoke on "The Govern
ment and Business" His theme was
the evil effect of too much government
INTERIM meddling in the business affairs of
the country.
James A. Emery. counsel of the as
soclaton. was toastmaster