INFORMATION-SEEKERS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 263, 31 July 1920, Page 8

INFORMATION-SEEKERS

"UNCLE SAM'S" EMISSARIES ONE ON EACH U.S. GOVERNMENT STEAMSHIP Tho Australian Commonwealth is not the only independent Government which ligures on Hie seven seas as owner of a steamship line. As a matter of fact, the war forced a good many countries into the shipping industry. The British Government has its own mercantile marine, tho Canadian Government is tho possessor of a iino of steamships, and the United States Government, which went in for shipbuilding on an unprecedented scale, has a largo fleet trading to all parts of tho world. During the last twelve months Wellington has been visited by several of. the United States Government steamships, which run directly under a mercantile board, and not through the agency of another shipping company. Those vessels were (according to Captain Dawson, tho harbourmaster), the Lorraine (two visits), Cnthilamet. Bellbuckie, Chepadoa, Donald M'Kay,, Iceland, Liberty, and West MahwaJi (which left Wellington yesterday). According to tho same authority, all these vessels are handy cargo-eariiers of about 4000 tons register (net), and 400 ft. long between uprights. In connection with theso vessels it i 9 not, perhaps, generally known that each one is accompanied by a special representative of the United States Government, whoso duty it is to look after the ship and cargo from a legal point of view, and at the samo timo to gather information of value to bis Department about the rwrts and the countries visited. It is significant that in several instances, If not in every one, these officials are younj? Inwyors. They make it a point to inspect the whole of the wharves, cargo-lifting gear, dry docks, shed accommodation, extent of port or harbourage, depth of water, prevailing winds, and other local conditions. In tho case of Wellington 6uoh information has been willingly given, so u .hnt probably the head office of the United States Mercantile Marine knows almost as much about Wellington and its port as does the ohairman of the Harbour Board.