Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-05-20
Ministry
|OfShipping
Is Urged
Moi. Eliot Proposes
Naming Of Expert
With Cabinet Rank
By MAI. GEORGE FIELDING
ELIOT.

ELIOT.
It has been pointed out frequently
IN these articles that the war effort
of the United Nations may be CLASH
fed under three headings:
l. The Battle of Production.
2. The Battle OF Transportation.
g. The Battle OF Combat.
1t is necessary TO VII. the first two
In order to win the third
For long time we centered most
Of our attention on the Battle Of
Production. This was natural
enough, because the initial advan-
tage Of both Germany and Japan
rested so largely on superior ma
terial preparation for war.
Now we are coming to a point
where we can feel that in the Battle
Of Production we are evening, and
more than evening, the balance.
But we are very far from winning
the Battle of Transportation.
Shipping Still Is Crux.
The vital importance to us Of this
Battle of Transportation lies in the
fact that so much of the United Ma
tons war effort is dependent on the
United States.
In this crucial year Of 1912 we
must not only produce merchant
shipping in increasing quantities
and make the very best use Of every
ton of shipping we already possess:
we must also provide increased pro-
lection for shipping against enemy
attack, reduce the time Of turn
arounds, eliminate all non-essential
uses of shipping, and use every form
of effort to get hold of shipping not
now being used for our war effort.
AS regards the United States, We
must make the maximum use OF
rail, river, canal and motor trans
port, so that not ton of material
will be moved by coastwise shipping
which can be moved by any other
means.
Would Centralize Control
1t is obvious that we need better
and more thoroughly co-ordinated
system Of shipping control than We
have at present. 1t is not enough
to say that we must split up the
present duties of the Maritime Com
mission among several heads.
1t is not enough to say that Ad-
niral Land cannot at the same
time supervise construction and OPP
Grafton of shipping. What is re-
quired is not less, but greater. CEN
tralization; not division of author
ity, but increased authority; author
ity over every form Of American
transportation, centered in one man.
as authority over production has
been centered in Donald M. Nelson.
We need, in fact, a Ministry Of
Shipping and Transportation, head
ed by broad-gauge, capable and
ruthless director who will use his
powers for the single purpose Of
winning the war, and will have a
prestige and standing equal to that
Of a member of the Cabinet. e
Under such head. separate divi-
sions can deal with shipbuilding,
ALLEGATION and operation Of ships.
rail transportation, personnel and
training and plans. Such a minis
try should then be closely co-ordi-
mated with the similar agencies in
the governments of the other United
Nations, so that an Inter Allied
Committee on Shipping and Trans
portation might begin to function
on the broadest possible lines.
We are winning the Battle Of
Production; we have a chance to
win our Battle of Combat only II
we make adequate provision for the
Battle of Transportation. 1t is our
most important and most crucial
task for this crucial year of 1912.