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512 , the British flag and upon these she can draw in time of need, and Japan must in proportion to her war fleet have her merchant ships ready in case of need. Without the aid which her merchant marine was able to furnish in 1904 her war with Russia could never have been conducted to a suc- cessful issue." The problem of the Japanese mer- cantile marine is, therefore, not such a simple thing as it looks and its future may be of much interest to us. Future of Japan's Marine. It may be said that the Japanese government will not be able to con- tinue the payment of such large boun- ties to the steamship lines that are developing her trade on the Pacific; but I think we will find, possibly when it is too late, that Japan can better afford to pay what is necessary to secure that trade than to do with- out it; the sentiment in Japan appears to be the reverse of what it is here. I will quote again from the Japan Daily Mail: "The present expenditure navy is part of the nation's policy calling forth vehement criticism among the mercantile community at home and the nation's critics both at home and abroad. The encouragement giv- en to shipping and shipbuilding is generally acquiesced in as essential to development. The number of years required before these can be self-sup- porting and independent of subsidy can scarcely be estimated; the future alone can decide." I do not believe that we should follow the French method; ships can be put on the ocean and navigated from one port to another if their expenses are paid, but this nursing . is without any sound economic policy to back it up; I believe it gives no ultimate benefit to the commerce of the nation adopting it. Permanent Lines of Communication. In my belief the first duty of the United States is to establish perman- ent lines of communication between her ports and the principal ports of the world, especially those where our products would be most likely to find a permanent market. The character of the service should be clearly stated and bids for the service required should be asked from_ responsible ship owners and awards made to the lowest responsible bidder. In ' this connection I would suggest the fol- lowing as probably meeting the pres- ent requirements of our commerce with outside nations. I suggest that Congress authorize -ens of the United States; 'to be of the most modern type, de- on the TAE Marine REVIEW the necessary the following subventions in amounts to establish steamship lines, the steamships for which shall be built in the United States and be wholly owned by citiz- these ships mail signed for the service in which they ate to be operated; the service to be for 15 years; the subvention to be awarded to the lowest bidder who shall give satisfactory guarantee that within two years from the date of contract he will have the line in op- eration. per cent of the crew of such vessels to be American citizens. The speed named in the contract to be the av- erage sea speed on the voyage, and the average speed of six months' op- eration to be taken as the speed under the terms of the contract. United States mails to be carried free of charge, and the passenger accom- modations to be first-class and ample for the probable needs of the service. The Schedule Proposed. 1. From an Atlantic port to Brazil; monthly; speed 14 knots; 5,000 tons gross or over. 2. From an Atlantic 'port to Uru- guay and Argentina, monthly; speed 14 knots; 5,000 tons gross or over. 3. From an Atlantic port to South 'Africa; monthly; speed 12 knots; 6,000 tons gross or over. 4 tom a. Paget ebuia" port and San Prancisco.. to, South Airtea; monthly; speed 12 knots; 6,000 tons gross or over. 5. Brom a Gull "pott" to "Brazil monthly; speed 12 Eno 3,000 tons gross or over. 6. Atlantic and. Gulf ports to Cuba; monthly; speed 12 knots; 3,000 tons gross or over. 7. New Orleans to Mexico and Central America; weekly; speed 14 knots; 3,000 tons gross or over. 8 Gulf ports to Mexico; weekly; speed 12 knots; 2,500 tons gross or over. 0.San Francisco to Japan, "China and the Philippine Islands; fortnight- ly; speed 17 knots; 12,000 tons gross or over. 10. Puget Sound to Japan, China and the Philippine Islands; monthly; speed 14 knots; 10,000 tons gross or over. Tl. Puget Sound and San Fran- cisco to Samoa and Australia, includ- ing Honolulu; fortnightly; speed 16 knots; 8,000 tons gross or over. 12, Puget Sound and San _ Fran- cisco to Panama, Mexico and South America, west side; fortnightly; speed 15 knots; 8,000 tons gross or over, All officers and at least 10° 'be ignored, December, 1909 13. From an Atlantic port to Eu- rope; weekly; speed 22 knots; 20,000 tons gross or over. Would Mean Many New Ships. These lines would require about 300,000 tons register of steamships, about 250,000 tons of which would have to be built. Compared to what we annually expend on our navy the expense of this fleet of merchant auxiliaries would be small. These lines would build up a commerce for this country worth many times what it would cost to maintain them. The method of letting out the subsidies as it were to the lowest bidder would secure the required service at the lowest feasible figure and would be fair to all concerned. I have brought this subject before the Society with some misgivings as to the result. Whatever position any member may hold or take on this subject the importance of it cannot and, while I cannot be present to take a part in the discus- sion which ought to follow the read- ing of it, I trust that there will be a full and free expression from all my fellow members of their views as to what the government should or should not do for the shipping inter- ests of our country. THE NEW WHITE STAR LEVIA- THANS--OLYMPIC'S FRAME WORK. It is significant of the interest which the new White Star liners evoke that, although they will not be completed at the earliest till the end of next year, they are already the subject of approving comment. They are to embody, it is clear, all the fea- tures of the most noteworthy liners at present under British or foreign flags, and, in addition, are to intro- duce some novelties of their own. The grill room, the verandah cafe, the. roof garden, the ocean flat, the swimming bath, the passenger lift,-- these will be among the many provis- ions showered upon the Atlantic voy- ager. A ballroom and a skating rink are other innovations which may be looked for in the new liners. There will be much to wonder at and ad- mire in the new liners, but from the point of view of ocean recreation, they will be particularly noteworthy. By this time it is pretty generally understood that the Olympic and Tit- anic are not designed to compete: with the big 'Cunarders in point of speed. Twenty-five or 26 knots does not represent an economic pace in the judgment of the White Star line,