The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-04-02
Secret OF German
Maritime Growth


Washington April 1.-What Germany Is
accomplishing in the way of building up
her merchant marine is discussed most
interestingly in an editorial in the Liver
pool Journal of Commerce of March 3.
The congress of the United States is soon
to discuss a bill for the building UP of
American shipping, in view of the posi-
bic passage of which foreign methods, as
regarded by foreign newspapers, are of
timely interest anu instruction to the
American people.
The Liverpool Journal of Commerce, in
the editorial in question, significantly
entitled German Competition" points
out that Germany is evidently deter
mined to take hand in ocean carrying; /;
that brand new German fleets are sup
piled wherever worlds trade openings are
possble that the patriotic German tax
payer bears the cost without q murmur,
and that the emperor and the govern
ment, by word of praise and encourage
ment, stimulate the national zeal whenever
it appears to flag. All of this, says the
Liverpool Journal of Commerce, adver-
tises the growth of German commerce
and shipping. No opportunity is lost
sight of to let the world know of Ger
manys growth; the highest officials seize
any occasion to advertise TO the world,
as did the emperor at the launching of
the Deutschland the other day, what Ger
many means to be as a maritime power.
Even accidents to German steamships
afford opportunity TO exploit the glory of
her marine, by honoring and medalling
of her "heroes of the sea-
o.
within thirty years." said Count Won
Bulow at the launching of the Deutsch-
land, Germany has increased the tom
mage of her mercantile marine quite tif-
teen fold" In the same time American
shipping in the foreign trade has declined
just one-half Until the British White
Star Liner Oceanic was launched, Ger
many had the largest ship af1oat, says
this Liverpool newspaper, and even now
her ships hold the blue ribbon for speed.
The revival of German shipping is due
TO the genius of Bismarck, says the Liv-
erpool Journal of Commerce It con-
tinues:
consequent on memorandum eman-
ating from that famous statesman, a
subsidy was provided for the North Ger
man Lloyd company. Subsidies, in the
opinion of an unread controversialist ex-
pressed in a morning half-penny paper,
are granted for the sole purpose of pass
ing into the pockets of few millonaires
posing as patriots. Nothing can be fur
ther from the truth. They help to start
Il line Of vessels which would not other
wise come into being. and thus carry the
nations flag to places where hitherto it
had been but name. Unless some such
assistance were given by the nation there
could not be a trade carried on at all to
certain parts of the empire"
O.
This newspaper points out other ways
by which the growth of German ship
building was aided, beginning in 1885, one
being by placing all shipbuiding mate
rials on the free list. This the United
states also did several years ago, in re-
spect Of shiphuidinG for the foreign trade.
Moreover, this British journal continues,
shipbuildng materials are carried at re-
duced rates on German government
owned railroads. Not alone the German
millionaire, but the German people in
general, says this journal, are deter
mined upon having a home-built mer-
chant marine of their own. This news
paper thus concludes its editorial:
1.-The increase in valuable shipbuilding
plant in German yards has verged on the
marvellous. At the same time the iron
and steel industries are attaining to
greater proficiency owing to the increased
demand for shipbuiding material and
the day is not far distant when the mer-
chant ships and war vessels of Kaiser
Wilhelm will be fashioned at home of
material all made in Germany Leglsla-
tion and advertisement by high authori-
ties have not done all under the head
of advance in the numbers and tonnage
of German ships. Nevertheless no other
country has done so much for it's ship
builders and shipowners in order to fos-
ter satisfactory mercantile marine to
compete in the markets of the world.
Whether the subsidy-fed German shipping
win hold it's own is hidden from US in the
womb of the future, but it is certainly
pushing forward at the present time"
Considering that, during the last half
century, British steamships have re-
Ceived in subsidies for carrying British
mails $3.50, 000 0O0 and that British steam
ships are more numerous than the steam
ships of all other nations combined, the
concern of British commercial and mari
time journals over Germany's rapid mari
time and commercial growth is not sur
prising.