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42 time world, resulting in a call orig- inating in this country for an Inter- national Conference on Safety of Life at Sea. % “The convention was held in Lon- don, opening Nov. 12, 1913, the text of same being finally signed on Jan. 20, 1914. Germany, Austria, Bohemia and Hungary, Belgium, Denmark, Spain, France, Great Britain, Ireland and the colonies of Australia, Canada and New. Zealand, Italy, Norway, The Netherlands, Russia, Sweden and the United States were in all represented by 55 delegates. The President of “the United States appointed 10 dele- gates of whom five are members of this society, though they were not appointed as such. It is a matter of gratification, however, that one of the founders of this society and a dis- tinguished officer and member of the council since its incorporation, Ad- miral W. L. Capps, was selected by the convention to be chairman of its most important committee, the one on construction. It is needless to say that every member of the delegation worked faithfully to procure the re- sults sought by the convention and to bring into one accord the many varied interests involved. “It is much to be regretted that the text of the convention was not at once ratified by the United States Senate. “The one great event of the world, overwhelming all others, is the hor- vible calamity of the almost universal war in Europe. Several nations are engaged in a conflict never before equalled. Each particular nation dis- avows all responsibility. The people of each nation involved, if accounts be true, and there seems to be no reason for doubting them, have en- tered the war with a consecration. in itself worthy of admiration. Every one of you has his own opinion of the causes, responsibility and _ prob- able outcome, which without doubt may be known for the asking. This being a society devoted to science, it were better to avoid partisanship, but I will venture to say that all will agree with the reported opinion of a prince of a royal family of great re- nown, that “this war is useless, sense- less and unnecessary.’ Preparedness for War “On our roll of membership are the names of distinguished men from every one of the nations engaged in conflict and to discuss the subject other than from the scientific stand- point would be apt to cause bitter thoughts and remarks which we have no desire’ to arouse. “The daily press has published col- THE MARINE REVIEW umns from the pens of noted men of affairs on the advisability of prepar- edness and of unpreparedness for war. “Without going deeply into these subjects, it would seem that so long as national racial tendencies exist and desires for empire supposedly for the interest of the citizens of each nation, tendencies and desires that develop the consecration and patriot- ism so pre-eminently shown at pres- ent in Europe, just so long will there be battleships, airships, submarines and all of the other dreadful para- phernalia of conflict in which as naval architects and marine engineers we must be interested. The old contest of guns versus armor will be ac- companied by the newer conflicts of airships and submarines versus battle- ships, cruisers, destroyers and _ the like. Building Up a Merchant Marine “We would very much prefer to devote the greater part of our energy, skill and industry in building up a merchant marine worthy of our great country, but until a world agreement can be reached and made absolutely perpetual, to abandon these other im- plements be they for war or pro- tection against war, this country must have its share and you who design, construct and operate same must keep . in touch with their developments and uiust be able to produce in the future as in the past the best of each class. “Your president in his address at the 1910 meeting in brief: said, ‘Some day * * * * the people of ‘this great nation. *.* * * ywill realize’ the. su- preme importance of having ships and yards in which to build them; will realize that we in deliberately passing to foreigners annually enor- mous sums which should be earned by our own citizens; and they will come to themselves, will unite on the right course, will demand from their representatives a change from the present condition, and they will er 162 “He then had no thought of the condition of affairs now existing. The great European war accomplished in one short month what years of debate in and out of congress failed to ac- complish. It brought directly to the personal interest of agriculturists and some manufacturers the great need for them of a merchant marine; and over-night almost there was a great demand for American ships which the futile legislation of years past had failed to provide. “So great has this demand been during the past few months that hasty legislation of various kinds has been proposed, and some enacted. February 1915: “The rider to the act of Aug, 12: 1912, passed for the management of the Panama canal and the govern- inent of the Panama Zone, permitted under certain conditions the admis- sion of foreign built vessels to Amer- ican registry for trade with foreign countries. “No owners of such vessels took advantage of this opportunity to come under the American flag for the sim- ple reason that our other laws and customs compel a much greater cost of operation under the American flag. than that of any other nation. “On Aug. 18, 1914, an amendment to the Panama Canal Act just men- tioned was passed changing the con- ditions of that Act and authorizing the President in his discretion to sus- pend the provisions regarding the nationality of watch officers and the | requirements of survey, inspection and measurement. “This amendment practically went into effect on Sept. 8, and since that date, the dangers of war have caused ninety-seven vessels of 339,153 gross tonnage to be transferred from foreign to American registry. These vessels, owned by American corporations or individuals, were previously built and operated under foreign flags because ot the much less cost of so doing. “Whether these vessels and. others that follow the example will remain under the American flag will naturally depend largely on the laws which will be in force ‘when this cruel war is over.’ “The prominent propositions which have yet to be acted upon are the purchase of foreign vessels, some of which are now interned in our own seaports; and the formation of a steamship corporation to operate so- called American ships in the trade of the world; either scheme to be sup- ported entirely or in a great measure by the United States government. Purchase of Foreign Vessels “The President of the United States in his message to Congress just con- vened says ‘to correct the many mis- takes by which we have discouraged and all but destroyed the Merchant Marine of the country, to retrace the steps by which we have, it seems almost deliberately, withdrawn our flag from the seas would take a long time and involve many detailed items of legislation. Also in reference to the pending Shipping Bill he says, ‘In my judgment such legislation is imperatively needed and cannot wise- ly be postponed. The government must open these gates of trade and epen them wide; open them before it is altogether profitable to open