THE MERCANTILE MARINE.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3319, 24 October 1919, Page 2

THE MERCANTILE MARINE.

TRIBUTE FROM AMERICA. FUND OF £10,000,000 MOOTED. One of the most remarkable evidences -of the generous appreciantion of Americans the world over of the sacrifices Great Britain‘ made in maintaining sea supremacy‘ during the war is to ‘be found in the organisation known as Americ-a.’g Tribute to British MOl-chant Seaman.

The project, the success of which is assured, is to raise £10,000,000, solely among Americans for the benefit -of the 30,000 Inen of the British Mercantile Marine, who suflered disablement in braving the cl-angers of the submarine foe. The ‘11lOVC»]l]C11t owes its origin to an informal talk among some of Anleriea’s ‘greatest commercial inagnates, who felt that such a tangible mark of sylnpzithy would do more than anything else to cement a. bond of friendship between the two c,ollllt:l'ies and pronioto: genuine internati’onezll relationshlilf. The fund has grown with amazing rapidity in America, and "Mr Appleton, chairman of the;,org'anisation, recently visited England. to appeal for £1,000,000. from the Americans cloiniciled there. '

In an interview Mr Appleton emphasized the international importance of the movement. “It. will do more than anybody can calculate.” he said, “to promote a bond of brotherhood among the two peoples. It is Vnot merely that we are raising £10,000,OUO among our own fol-k for the benefit of Bl'it—ish seamen, but it is an evidence that we want. -to stand together in all future time‘ as a bulwark against any onslaughts on civilisation, freedom and progress. I am not vaskin,t_;' for a penny of British money. This is America ’s tribute to ghe valour and endurance of British seamanship, which stood Hetwen flie'Allies and ‘disaster’. which protected our commerce, ensured our food supplies, and maintained the supremacy of the seas It is a glorious chapter in British history, and deserves to Ibe W-orthily colnnielllol*a‘f*.ed.”