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MOIST INIT WITT TU HH M gt IIAUTUTEUUUATTOCUUULUTL AMM \ UL INNATE TTT UNNI EET AT HHI]! In ( ATM TT VOL. 47 CLEVELAND APRIL, 1917 NEW YORK No. aN Washington Officials Have United 4 Support of Marine Interests But British Experiences of Past 30 Months Should Be Analyzed Carefully HE pressure of international developments has [ brought this country to a point where the probability rather than the possibility of war- like action on our part is freely discussed. National developments which owe their inspiration to the inter- national situation have already brought several lines of private industry close to a wartime footing. As indus- tries vitally needed in any scheme of national defense or offense, the shipping and ship building interests have already received that close national scrutiny which is preliminary to bringing their full resources into effective play—a scrutiny that well wishers of an American merchant marine have endeavored almost fruitlessly to encourage in peace times. In the preliminary preparations now under way, it is inevitable that the 30-month experiences of the nations actually at war, should be drawn upon for suggestion and guidance. And it is a sober reflection of the deep and in many ways imperfectly under- stood influence of European events, that these initial preparatory measures begin at a point that three years ago would have been abhorrent to most Americans. Thirty months ago the most optimistic socialist did not foresee that governmental regulation of private industry would be a fact in nearly all Europe in 1917. A Chance To Avoid Mistakes In a republican form of government like ours, great crises usually precipitate vigorous but in too many cases mistaken activity. Starting from the bottom, as we necessarily do, we possess almost every oppor- tunity for making mistakes and the wide appreciation of this fact explains the comparative leniency with which we regard mistaken but energetic zeal. The close parallel between conditions which would face this country if belligerency replaces neutrality and those confronting: England in August, 1914, gives our national administration precedents to follow that the Asquith government lacked. In a consideration of the measures already adopted or proposed for a more active governmental partici- pation in shipping and ship building affairs, we find the influence of England’s action but not as generally an appreciation of her experiences. At the request of the navy department, for instance, private ship builders who are busy on governmental as well as private contracts, are now furnishing Secretary Daniels with complete data of their facilities. This information, Daniels says, is desired for two reasons: to ascertain the present capacity and possible future capacity, and to determine the use to which the government could put the yards in case they were taken over. Similar information is to be requested later of yards which are not at work on governmental contracts. What the War Taught England The necessity for such information being quickly available at Washington is readily apparent. The judicious employment of the opportunities which the information may disclose, is essential. It has been intimated that the yards might be required to con- centrate their full resources on governmental work to the exclusion of private business now on the books. But a portion of England’s troubles since Germany’s declaration of Feb. 1, is based on a similar decision by the British admiralty in the early months of the war. Merchant vessels were put aside in order to expedite naval construction, and it required stern national necessity to drive home the fact that the former class of ships had. their war uses, almost equally as important as a battleship or a destroyer. Now the completion of: merchant vessels launched or started several years ago is being rushed. Care- , ful consideration must be given at Washington to the needs of our merchant marine as’ well as our battle fleet. And when considering governmental reg- ulation of shipping, England’s difficulties should be thoughtfullv analyzed. The present opportunities for statesmanship are innumerable, the need for wise decisions is imperative. The government has the country’s whole-hearted support and the burdens involved in giving effective- ness to this support will be accepted hopefully and cheerfully.