Detroit evening times., 1942-05-18
us. S.Merchant
MarineCaIIed.
Achilles Heel.

Maritime Board Knows
Ship Problem Is Vital
THE PROPELLER CLUB OF
THE UNITED STATES
National Headquarters. h
II Battery Place, New York
May 7, 1912.
Mr. William Randolph Hearst.
Wyntoon,
McCloud. Cal.
Dear Mr.. Hearst.
TODAY, as never before in the
Il history of any nation, we are
engaged in a global war of ships.
Allow me TO invite your atten-
tion and also, il possible. that of
your many millions of readers to
a problem of first magnitude
concerning the American mer-
chant marine - an Achilles
Heel" in the nations war pro-
gram.
The United States Maritime
Commission is today supervising
the construction of some 22,000,-
600 tons of new shipping. ap-
proximately 2,300 ships. by the
end of 1943. In the light of the
present urgent demand for ocean
tonnage, this program may soon
be accelerated 10 include 5000
new ships.
Briefly. such program will
require a complement of 25,000
licensed deck and engineering
officers within 18 months in ad-
dition to approximately 100000
unlicensed personnel in all rat
ings.
Facts and figures indicate that
there may be a shortage of many
thousands of officers notwith-
standing the earnest training
programs now under way by
both federal and state agencies.
1t is my firm conviction that
the average American. lacking
public education of our mer-
chant marine. has but small
appreciation of the problems in
volved in the transportation of
planes. tanks. guns and other
war materials via ships to the
many war fronts the world
around.
Neither do they have a factual
understanding or appreciation of
how our merchant marine is con-
stituted or of the opportunities
ii affords the youth of the nation
10 serve their country. including
the molding of a career for the
postwar reconstruction which
must inevitably follow.
Without officers and without
crews, ships are obviously use
less: without the aid of a SUBJ
stantial merchant marine the
army and navy are helpless in
overseas operations. The train
ing of competent officers for
this rapidly expanding maritime
fleet is one of the greatest prob
, lens and certainly must not
become a bottleneck in our sue
cessful prosecution of the war.
Our seaports are now jammed
with material which cannot be
moved due to the lack of ship
ping and personnel.
The United States Coast
Guard, assigned during the war
emergency as a part of the navy
and charged with the RESPONSE
bility for training of merchant
marine personnel, is making
strenuous efforts. A comprehen-
sive training system for seamen
has been inaugurated aboard
ship and at shore bases includ-
ing Hoffman Island. N. Y; st.
Petersburg. Fla, and Port Hue
meme. Cal.
A national academy was re-
Gently established at Great Neck.
N. Y, for officer training, in
addition to basic schools at New
Orleans and San Francisco, and
is being expanded to accommo-
date some 1900 cadets.
Three states, for many years,
also have been engaged in the
training of young men for officer
careers aboard our merchant
vessels. The oldest of these
academies. founded in 1874. is
the New York State Merchant
Marine Academy at Fort Schuy-
| Ter in New York City.
California has a similar insti-
tuition. as does Massachusetts, in
Boston. More recently Maine
established such an academy.
! However with the competition
now offered by the air force
the army and the navy, the
reservoir of youth is fast being
depleted for these training pro-
grams.
The resolution TO this problem
of obtaining candidates to enter
upon this training. IT seems TO
me, lies in the presentation OF
the splendid opportunities Of
fered young Americans 10 serve
their country on the fighting sea
front.
II is a matter of record that
the Hearst newspapers have al
ways advocated an American
merchant. marine commensurate
with the needs of our great ma
tion for military and economic
defense. Now our country has
gigantic shipbuilding program
under way. These ships must be
manned and manned az once. l
am convinced that the necessary
quota Of officers and men for
orr maritime fleet can OnlV be