THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 1917. AMERICA ON THE SEA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16665, 9 October 1917, Page 4

THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 1917. AMERICA ON THE SEA.

A new and permanent outlet for American energy is suggested by the recent cable news indicating the extent of the Allied need of ships. The United Staftes is not a maritime nation, but; the completion of the shipbuilding programme now in front of her can hardly do other than leave her a power upon the sea. There is probably no serious misstatement of ( the shipping position in saying that whatever American troops are sent to France must be, supplied by American ships with food and munitions of American origin. , Even if the great munitionment resources of Britain are used for the American Army, the raw materials for manufacture must principally come from America, and the United States must provide practically all the foodstuffs required by her fighting men. The British Minister in Charge of Shipping Control has stated that America must construct 6,000,000 tons annually to maintain her military effort. The magnitude of the figure makes it clear that the building resources of the United States will be taxed to the utmost. British construction in 1918 is estimated at no more than 4,000,000 tons. Before the American breach with Germany the shipbuilding yards of the United States had under construction 1,500,000 tons of steel shipping, and it was expected to launch over 1,250,000 tons this year apart from wooden craft, of which 160 were then on the stocks. The declaration of war led to plans for the building of 1000 ships, each of 3000 tons, but the present situation calls for a great increase upon that programme. The demand made on America is that she should in a year duplicate her total mercantile marine, including the great proportion now engaged in the trade of'her inland lakes.

Of the 6,000,000 tons of shipping on the American register, only 3,790,000 tons are ocean-borne. The remainder is usually employed in the northern lakes and the Philippine Islands trade. The tonnage of tin enemy shipping seized by the United States is about 600,000, and most of this is now becoming available, giving America an Atlantic tonnage of over four millions. When it is considered .that the Allies are already depending to some extent on American shipping, and that the available, tonnage is constantly subject to enemy action, it is obvious that a great shipbuilding - programme is necessary if America hopes to place and maintain in France an army in any way commensurate with her man-power. Already the military preparations of America envisage a huge tonnage. Including the advance guard in France nearly 2,000,000 Americans are now being prepared for active

service. ■ There were 340,000 in the National Guard, and the National Guard reserve, mobilised in July, most of whom had seen service on tie Mexican border; there were 500,000 men in the first selective draft which went into camp a month ago, and •to the end of July 1,750,000 men—of whom over 1,000,000 had been accepted— teered for various branches of national military service, chiefly to fill the depleted ranks of the regular army and the guard. It is stated that by the end of the year nearly 3,000,000 Americans will be on active service on land or water, or in training. Germany scoffed at the possibilities of Britain becoming a military factor. Despite bitter disillusionment she professes to believe that no considerable American army can reach France, basing her hope on the difficulties of transport and supply. , British resolution overcame the problems which Crowded thick in 1014 and 1915, and there is every reason to believe that America has the will and the power to remove the handicaps which threaten to limit her military effort this year and next. To improve the efficiency of the present merchant fleet it is suggested that speed should be increased by the use of a higher standard of coal, that the whole fleet should pass under naval control, and that larger and more efficient crews should be carried both on deck and in tho stokehold. It is an unfortunate circumstance that 95 per cent, of the men in American forecastles are foreigners, many of them with no national passion touched by tho war. These crews can gradually bo reinforced or -displaced by Americans, who are turning to the sea in large numbers now that the safety of their country demands naval and, maritime expansion. There is thus being surely laid the foundation for that mercantile marine which! American Governments have tried . in vain to create by legislative enactments. The war must have convinced America that (v people who are insular as well as continental are unwise to neglect the sea and leave ocean transport to foreign companies. The dawn of peace should, therefore, find America with maritime interests almost undreamt of, a ship-building, ship-owning, and sea-going people, ready to enter into friendly rivalry with Britain and other nations in the carrying of food and manufactures over seas which have been freed for all time from the foul weapons of German militarism.