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Show American Merchant Marine Enlarged by 399 Sea-going Vessels in Six Months. WASHINGTON, March 1. The growing American merchant marine was increased by 309 sea -going vessels in the last six months of 1917, government govern-ment officials said today, or an average of more than two a day. Many of tho vessels were built in the United States, having been under construction for foreign accounts and taken over by tho American government. govern-ment. Others wcro interned German ships but the largo steamers like tho Vatorland, which were commandeered by the navy, are not Included in tho total, of 399. Figures previously made public showed that more than 1,000,000 tons of shipping were added to tho Amori-can Amori-can merchant marine in 1917. |