The Cordova daily times., 1922-05-29
GET BEHIND THE SHIPS

The extensive advertising campaign Ol lne Shipping Board is awakening responses from individuals and organizations i'll all parts ot the country There is a growing realization that the movement for permanent American merchant marine cannot succeed unless the people are behind it, and, conversely, It IS certain of success if shippers and overseas tourists recognize what is their patriotic duty and patronize American ships At its recent meeting at Indianapolis the American Leglon adopted resolutions heartily endorsing the plea of the Shipping Board for wider patron age of it's vessels Government officials them selves are intimating to their subordinates that our marchant marine should be given prefer ence in booking passages and making ship ments of goods. The passenger lists ot our ships show that the campaign ot publicity IS having the desired effect.
 It is we'll to remember in this connection that the sole reason for the traditional British supremacy in maritime commerce IS the fact that the British people have been behind thell' shipping men and their government in then determination to maintain their merchant ma rine second to none. It is bred In the bone of the Britisher that the safety of the empTe de bends as much on a successful commercial fleet as it does on an adequate navy. School children are taught the advantages of thel' country in lending encouragement to brltlS" shiDDino, and are given study courses Tn for- cion commerce that make them familiar with the principal ports of the world, ocean trade routes. and the products and needs of the var ious countries. Their interest In maritime com nerce is thus aroused at an early age, and It remains with them through life. Government aid in the shape of loans and subsidies to ShIp builders and operators is taken as matter or course in Great Britain.
 Tn the United States there IS quite as much attention to problems of national defense as elsewhere, but the minds of the people have not to this time been sufficiently aroused to the importance of an adequate merchant marine as a guaranty of safety. The recent treaty for the limitation of naval ornaments has brought re- newed emphasis to the subject. With the cap ital ships of big navios held down in tonnage and gun power by arbitrary rules, as they will be for at least ten years to come, that nation will have the preponderant power that has at is command big merchant fleet capable of prompt conversion into auxiliary cruisers or transports. Had it not been for the huge Brit lSil COlflineTcldl leel, Ilo o-bo"o oe'IlI Daion would have brought the speedy surIen- der of Great Britain. More than half of the American army transported to the front in British vessels If they had not been avail able there mgiht have been a different ending to the war. How much more significant are those facts now that the strength of navles IS to the restricted
 Too often in the past the discussion of our merchant marine has taken on sectional as pects Citizens of the Middle Western States have been inclined to look upon shipping as an industry of those states in proximity to either coast but of no special interest to them The observation has frequently been made that if foreign ships can do our ocean carrying cheaper than our own it is better to give the business to them. Of course such viewpoint takes no note of the commercial independence and national security that merchant marine under our own flag gives. Those factors are of much concern to one section of the United States as to another. Their proper apprecia- ton by people generally is all that is needed to insure our future upon the seas.