New-York tribune., 1922-11-10
Merchant fleet
Urged by I)enhy
As Aid to Navy
Secretary Says We Must
iiaye Marine Big Enough
To BE Used as Auxil-
larry If the Need Arises
Emphasizes Subsidy Bill
should No Longer Deliver
american Goods i'm The
ships of Competitors

The apbuilding Of a strong American
merchant marine, able to carry Ameri-
can goods 20 all the ports of che world
and upon which the navy could draw
or anxiliaries Of every description If
this country should enter war, was
urged unon the Society of Naval Archi-
tcess and Marine Engineers at its thir-
ieth annual dinner last night at the
Waldorf Astoria by Secretary of the
Navy Edwin Denby, who was the guest
Of honor.
Secretary Denby also spoke emphati-
caiiy In favor of a ship subsidy, as
recommended by the President, saying
that he had always voted for a subsidy
wien in Congress, under whatever
nanic il may have been presented, and
that 1t was q measure very much need.
cd to further the interests OF An,eri-
can shipping and to provide for sharp
maritime competition in the near
future. President Harding had asked
him to tell the society, the speaker
said, that he earnestly hoped the mer4
chant marine bill would be passed this
month
want to emphasize the fact" said
Secretary DENLY, "that fleet is not a
Heet If it consists only of capital ships.
We shall be absolutely helpless in the
occasion Of a great war unless we have
70 draw upon for the necessary auxil-
tary craft an adequate merchant ma
rine.
Deliver in Rivals Ships
We must have upon the high seas
sufficient number of vessels. wall
found and in good condition and of
varying types TO carry our trade and
passengers 1t must seem strange to
the people of foreign lands to have
American goods delivered to them by
foreign ships. 1t is like merchant
rsiag his rivals wagons to deliver his
goods to, his customers. The day is
coming when we viii meet coinpetition
undreamed of now for the markets of
the world"
The Secretary sketched the work of
the navy in times Of distress abroad,
such as the Smyrna massacre and of
the constant patrol maintained along
the Yang-tse-kfang River in China.
Walter Mcfarland, president of the
society, read "a letter from President
Harding which said:
mo one purpose more enthusiast
cally enlists the attention of the pres
ent Administration at Washington than
that OF turning our vast assets in ships
into live and efficient merchant.
marine. Every day adds to the con-
Vlctlon that the uphuilding of our met-
chant nlarit1e is of first Importance in
assuring our national defense and of
incalcuiable Importance in maintaining
Americas fitting place in the COM
merce of the world
Since | am unable to attend. I will
thank you to convey my very cordial
greetings and to express the hope that
American Merchant Marine Week and
this notable meeting of your society
will add TO American conviction that
We must establish and maintain this
agency OF transportation on the high
seas II we arc to maintain a position
of becoming eminence in the world of
trade.
Must Be in Private Hands
William j. Love, vice-president of
the Emergency Fleet Corporation, also
spoke IN favor of subsidy plan.
IF it is the country's wish that we
nave merchant marine, then it can
be successful only in private hands.
which will, by energy, ambition and
resourcefulness place it iii q position
10 compete freely with tho flags of
other nations"
At the speakers table were Rear
Admiral John X. Robson, Rear Ad-
mlral John d, Beuret, Sir Andrew
Scott, Rear Admiral Carl r. Vogelge.
sang, Brigadier General William G.
Weigel, Rear Admiral A. 2. Niblock.
Rear Admiral Hutchinson Cone and
Rear Admiral Robert S. Griffith.