The Wilmington morning star., 1940-12-29
of supply and manufacturing
destination.

destination.
In Good Condition
In World War I, convention
speakers said, railroads broke
down and river and canal trans.
portation had to take over, but to.
day our waterways are in good
condition and ready to carry the
burden. They stressed the fact,
Rountree said, that in case of wal
railroads al be bombed to de-
struction but waterways cannot.
In consideration Of the American
Merchant marine and its relation
to defense, Propeller club conven-
ton delegates were advised the
merchant marine is the only in
dustry ready for any emergency
and this condition is due to the
Maritime Commissions program
of shipbuilding, starting in 1886.
IT under the new transportation
act Is 10000, the Interstate Com
merce Commission passes harsh
regulations, the American mer.
chant marine is gone, delegates
were advised by officials, who de-
clared 1--WE want and can get the
finest merchant marine fleet with
the help of the maritime commits.
sion."
speech on the Coast Guards Role
in National Defense" Rountree re-
ported, cited the following duties
of the coast guard: to enforce the
laws on the water, saving of life
and property, weather observation.
cooperation and merger with the
navy in times of war, supervision
of craft in time of war to prevent
sabotage, and training of merchant
seamen.
Rear Admiral Waesche told the
convention the U. S. was now in
the second stage of war, prepar-
alton, with the next stage being
readiness. Coast guard ships are
being thoroughly armed and
equipped for war service, he said,
and the U. S. c. G. now comprises
22,OGO officers and men.
Plans for the organization of the
U. S. c. G. reserves, whose duty
will be to safeguard yachtsmen
and protect harbors and docks in
time OF war, were outlined by Rear
Admiral Waesche, Rountree re-
ported.
800 Ships Planned.
Other speakers, in discussing the
relation of the shipbuilding indus
try to National Defense, said the
program calls for some 800 ships
TO be built. There are 81 ship
yards engaged in building, with II
OF them building naval vessels.
Some speakers advanced the
opinion I'VE have enough shipyards
already in the field, should i'm
prove them and not build Others"
Naval construction for a two-ocean
navy has put a great strain on the
nations shipyards, but designs are
being standardized for speed. The
worst problem features the
changes in design in the middle of
construction.
Other program leaders said the
next worst problem was in train
ing OF employees; they are being
trained now; otherwise, as in 1917
10, there would be a shortage of
such men. Convention delegates
also heard the declaration that 1--WE
nave too much in our ships-cheap-
er and better ships ($1, 2Oo) could
ana should be made"
Admiral Emory S. Land, who
spoke on the subject Merchant
Marine as a Naval Auxiliary" told
the convention, I'VE intend to build
and build and send ships to Eng
land and everything else until it
hurts and God didn't give me
enough brains to know when it
hurts"
Rountree reported the two con.
vention resolutions not approved
dealt with the Panama c n l,
urging on the government the
waste and inconvenience and loss
OF money due to the canals being