New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-02-12
GERMAN PROGRESS.
REVEALED IN A REPORT FROM The
BRITISH FOREIGN OFFICE-MANY
MORALS FOR AMERICANS.


corna To the rescue Of this alarmst writer oy
nuh,,sh,ne this week a cold and colorless report
an the DEVELOPMENT Of the commerce ana sitp-
ming ~ the German Empire during the ias'
>wentv-s,x wears II reveals an increase OF "'
ner cent in foreign trade from 1872 TO ls"'' ana
an astonishing expansion of the merchant ma
r,ne and shipping facilities. II discloses the IRE
nendous strides which Germany has taken IN
Industrial and commercial progress ana eH-
mains how completely the Government mas sue
ceeded in reducing emigration and IN proViuhis
emnlovment at home and on the seas TOT rap
idly increasing population. The PROOF OF these
statements lies in the statistics coilec'eo io' .ne
Foreign once. and It is so clear anu eNp''0''
that the optimists who considered MI "i'i'"''''
. r,o,oma,,ec on the subject Of German COM
petition will hardly venture to bubble over IT,
Nanv branches Of this subject have discussed
IN q series Of Tribune letters on "lndustriai yer
r.rv.. hi, ther. was one regarding which
WAS unable TO obtain adequate information In
Hamburg and Berlin. This was the expansion
OF German shipping interests. The Foreign w
nce report shows that there has been an enor-
nous development OF the resources and capacity
OF the German merchant marine when mas
more than doubled since 1881. and more tnah
trehled since 1871. Hamburg has become the
greatest port in Europe. and there are e,sh'
large shipyards on the lower Weser' ana one
floating dock with lifting power OF l'ooV
tons At Bremen Stettin, Kiel. Danzig. flens-
burg and other ports there are great shipyaroe'
ana the merchant marine and coasting and fish
ing fleets have been built mainly IN Germany
while the tonnage Of vessels entering and leav-
ing German ports has run up during twenty
two years from 100000 10 30.50ooN that
hos ilNrp
cen, and that under foreign flags 235 per cent
The coasting trade alone has more than treoied
Maritime enterprise has created great mer-
chant feet. and supplied adequate shiphudng
facilities and docking accommodation Bremen
now has noating dock with lifting power OF
% oNo tons rivallng that OF Hamburg.
GERMAN TRAFFIC ON THE OCEAN.
Although reciprocity treaties are In operation
With Russia Austria Hungary and other coun-
tries. whose frontiers are those OF Germany
about 65 per cent Of the foreign TRADE Is no"
carried on by sea. and a large proportion OF the
freiehtage is under the national nag. Ihe IN
crease OF ocean traffic from German ports has
been 124 per cent in twenty-five years The
percentages of increase, which I find in The
Daily telegraph" have been 4SO for the East
and West Indies. 475 for Australia IN for
Great Britain and 80 for Southern Europe
During the opening years Of the empire one-haIr
Of the imports Of Hamburg came from Eng
,and hut this proportion has been reduced to
less than one-Quarter During the last seven
wears covered by the trade returns the export
trade with England has barely held its ground
whereas that with other foreign countries has
largely increased. Hamburg and Bremen are
now in touch with the ends of the earth. and
their shipping trade is increasing by leaps and
bounda
Whatever may be the morals to be drawn for
Englishmen from this important official report
II is certain that Americans have much to learn
from IT, as well rs from the recent Industrial
and commercial experience OF Germany. In
openins new markets for its manufacturers and
merchants Germany has not Needed the cuckoo
song that trade will follow any flag. II has dis
PLAYED maritime energy by bringing into ex-
istence a commercial marine under its own flag
The magnitude OF the shipbuilding works In
dozen ports is one proof of this energy and the
subsidy system Us another. By special enact
ment in 1856 the Government was empowered
10 pay for fifteen years subsidies amounting
annually TO 8. 100000 for the establishment and
maintenance Of regular postal communication
with Australia and Eastern ASIA and an add
tdonal grant Of 100000 for a Mediterranean ser
Vice BY an additional law OF 1893 an annual sub
sidy Of S225 900 was authorized for postal service
with East Africa, and provision was made on
q smaller scale for communication with tho
Mediterranean. These contracts 10 be en-
larged with q view 70 expansion Of trade with
China All other payments for mail carriage by
water are on liberal terms. The truth has been
recognized that the flag advertises foreign en-
hat Nc ahc ~ , IN rtQ
crowded with the shipping Of other nations is
unerrng indication Of lack Of mercantile energy.
Another lesson which Americans can learn
from the recent experience Of Germany is the
necessity for commercial training. II the modern
battle for market IL to be by superior
mercantile enterprise. The system of technical
and commercial education by which Germany
hae equipped herself for career OF Industrial
triumph is worthy ~ serious study and close
fnita ton Young men intended for mercantile
life have a preliminary training In various lam
guages and commercial studies in special
schools. and after serving an apprenticeship in
Hamburg Bremen clerks. finally or
dered abroad. where secrets Of trade 10 he
learned and practical experience is TO be ac-
ouired. Manufacturers send their sons 70 tech
nical and commercial schools. and then pack
them off TO England. America. China Australia
the East Indies or Spanish America. either help
ing them there for years in wholesale houses or
mercantile agencies Or giving them rowing COM
missions travelling statesmen. The CONNER
cial schools throughout Germany are educating
men for mercantile life precisely as the technical
schools promoting efficiency and skill among
workmen. They are supplying the intelligence
and adaptability which required for open
ing and mastering new markets II is thor
Oughness Of training which is making the Ger
man the best merchant In the world.
NATION OF GOOD statesmen
To training has been added organizing power
The Germans have rejected the theory that
cheaper or better goods will sell themselves con-
demning II with the parallel fallacy that trade
will follow any flag They have established i'm
foreign markets wholesale houses of their own
whose large stocks be carried for the i'm
mediate supply Of the retail trade. They have