The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1945-05-22
MARITIME DAY
PROGRAM READY
CONTINUED from Page One)

theater. Previous to that he also
served in British waters during the
early part of the war. He partici-
pated in bringing into British ports
the first convoy of Liberty ships
to arrive from the United States.
Formerly Paris representative
of Dutch steamship companies, his
maritime experiences, including
observations of the great part the
American Merchant fleet is playing
in the war, make him well qualified
to discuss the gigantic role ships
of this nation have taken and are
continuing in winning the war, it
was said.
In Australia and New Guinea, he
helped train the thousands of In.
doenesians who, Immediately upon
their liberation by General Mac.
Arthur's forces, rushed to the
Netherlands recruiting centers to
enlist in the battle against the Jap
anese. Many other citizens of the
Netherlands are also training over.
seas, including a detachment at
Camp Lejeune. Two Of their Of
ficers, Lieut.. Commander Render
Hosstra and Lieut.. William deRid-
der, will attend the program at the
shipyard this morning.
Lieut.. Serle will also speak al
today's meeting of the Rotary club
and intends to visit the Dutch
colony at Castle Hayne this after
noon. His last talk here will be
before the Civics class at New Han
over High school Wednesday morn
ing at 8 o'clock.
Maritime Day was created by
q joint resolution of Congress in
1888 and May q was set as the
date in honor of the first steam
ship crossing of the Atlantic ocean,
the S. S. Savannah, which sailed
from that Georgia port.
In one of his last official acts,
the late President Roosevelt issued
his customary proclamation calling
for observance of the day to pay
honor to Americas merchant ship.
ping. This year emphasis will be
placed on the significance of our
present day maritime position and
will call attention to the Merchant
Marines importance to the national
defense and economic security OF
the United States. In directing that
the people of the United States OBJ
serve the day by displaying the
flag at their hines and other suit
able places, the late President gave
official stamp to the debt the nation
owes the Merchant Marine for its
heroic wartime achievements.
Today the American Merchant
Marine is the largest in HISTORY
It consists Of some 1000 ships OF
approximately $4,000, 900 dead
weight tons and is served by 210,-
600 officers and men. The
management and operation of this
vast fleet is performed by ap.
proximately 100 American steam
ship companies, acting as agents
Under the direction of the War
Shipping Administration.
The late President Roosevelt re.
Gently summed up the services oil
the men and management of the
American Merchant Marine when
he said:
1.-THE operators in this war have
written one of its most brilliant
. chapters. They have delivered the
goods when and where needed if
every theater Of operations ane
across every ocean in the biggest
the most difficult and dangerou.
job ever undertaken.
"As time goes on, there will b.
greater public understanding O.
or merchant fleets record durin,
this war. That, I hope. will Civ
it the kind of support, especial.
from shippers and passengers, tina
will insure the strength and vigo
it will need to meet our defens
and foreign trade requirements i
H.