Show I Columbia the Gem of the Ocean I I JT IT r T HAS been man many years since the patriotic song having the a title 1 Columbia the Gem of the Ocean expressed 1 the truth as to the real status of America as a maritime nation nailer The time lime was as history tells us that the Stars and Stripes Ore re known and respected throughout the he civilized world and that Y Proudly floated at the masthead masthead of more ships stills than l bore hore borey borela tat h flag la of other any nation t y Americans have dreamed of this country again becoming I a aTe Te mercantile ca tile sea power w with ships again carrying Old Glory into hito IRry r port of the civilized world This dream has been a ton long inc me jp but IT it l no now is in prospect of realization Today a for the first time in man nal many years CaiS American goods are areng ng g carried in American vessels in greater amounts than in vessels upon which American inn importers and exporters have Iti et fore had to depend to carry the thc products of this country to toi I ever every y port to lo which they were shipped and to bring i rs to Anie American Wean ports Figures tell teIl the UlC story of the beginning g of the revival of shipping nipping For the le ten n months ended April 19 t 1917 t 1 AmerIn Amer- Amer Ya rI In vessels carried only of our imports while 0 oo went in ln British bottoms For the same Period of 1918 I t th the he t. t ned ed L American America 11 total w was is while the British h San t 00 For the present year the American total s t amounted Cd l to or almost d double uble the total of carried in British J I A As vessels p Ped d the a th a result of f the war war during urnS which period America st surf sur- sur ir- ir f h d dest destined Cj W World with its extensive shipbuilding program this c coun- coun o un- un ed sj a and to resume n e i Hs its ts proud position as the lit monarch of the the when j tt both th columbia 01 the he Gem of the O Ocean ean can be sun sung I zest and truthfulness I 1 I |