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Munson Buys Pan America Line Most Important Link in Overseas Service BY A. H. JANSSON | * % S. S. AMERICAN LEeGIoN—One of four sister ships 535 feet long of 14,000 tons each sold by the United States shipping board to the Munson Steamship line for operation between New York and East Coast South American ports N NOV. 12 the United States shipping board by a vote of six to one confirmed the sale of the Pan America Line to the Munson Steamship Line of New York for $4,104,000. Th2 sale includes the four liners, AMERICAN LESION, SOUTHERN CROSS, WESTERN WORLD and PAN AMERICA which have been in con- tinuous operation by the Munson Line for the United States ship- ping board in the service between New York and the East Coast of South America since they came out early in 1921 and 1922. No other service inaugurate] by the government is of greater importance to the future wel- fare of the nation as a builder of trade and good will. This line has been of the greatest value in opening up the markets of th: fast growing and potentially rich countries of South America. Not to have direct and regular com- munication by first class Ameri- can ships between these markets and our own would mean an in- surmountable handicap in com- peting with other nations for this trade. The good work al- ready done is reflected in better relations and in increased commerce and travel. It may be of interest to recapitulate here the various steps in starting this service. In 1919 no regular American passenger line existed, be- tween the United States and the East Coast of 441 FRANK C. MUNSON President Munson Steamship Line South America. The government had as a result of the war come. into possession of a number of German and Austrian merchant ships. It was decided to inaugurate a passenger service. The Munson Steamship Line on its own initiative had some time before this planned a freight liner service from New York to South America and two of four cargo vessels constructed in 1917 were named MUNDELTA and MUN- AIRES, indicating by their names the services they were intended for. The war of course inter- fered with these plans but they were resumed and carried into effect soon thereafter. In looking for a responsible competent operator for the pro- jected passenger service to South America the shipping board se- lected the Munson Line, with its established South American con- nections and its general reputa- tion of long standing as a suc- cessful and thoroughly American steamship line, as best fitted to assume the responsibilities of managing the service. Since no new ships were available several ex-German vessels were used. The first one chosen, the Prince Joachim, renamed the Moccasin, was converted to burn oil and otherwise elaborately reconditioned in the winter of 1919-1920 at Tietjen & Lang’s yard in Hoboken. She was too small and much too slow