New-York tribune., 1902-06-09
TWO VIEWS OF BRITISH SHIPPING.

Sir Robert Giffen, who is an authority upon
such matters. takes somewhat pessimistic
view of the outlook for British shipping. AS
renorted by The Tribune's London correspond
ent, he on Friday pointed out that while the
shipping of the rest of the world had Increased
bv 100 Der cent between 1895 and 1900 that or
Great Britain had increased by only 10 per cent
Moreover he expressed the fear that American
acquisition of British lines OF steamers might
lead to American construction of ships for those
lines and thus to the decline and ruin OF the
British shipbuilding industry, sir ROBERTS
opinions will doubtless be seriously regarded
as they deserve to be, though it VIII not De
overlooked that the British shipbuiluing INDUS
try shows as yet no symptoms OF decline anu
that the recent acquisitions by the American
Shipping Trust comprise only an inslgnhcant
fraction Of the whole mass Of British shipping
On the other hand, Colonel Maude, who Is
also to be esteemed as an authority, takes
decidedly hopeful view of the situation, espe-
cially of the American Shipping Trust business
He would see no especial harm in American
acquisition of the whole Atlantic mercantile
fleet For he argues, if Great Britain and the
Tinted States were at war with each otner
American ports would be closed against British
shining no matter how much of the latter
there might be on the Atlantic, while Amer1-
can ownership of these lines would simply I'M
pose upon the American navy the greater tash
of guarding them against BRUSH cruisers.
Briefly in case of a war between these TWO
countries-though that u.s. of course, unthihk-
shle-the one which had the fewer Atlantic
liners would really be the better OFF
To turn however, from the unthinkable to
the possible Colonel AIaude argues that II
Great Britain were to be attacked by Euro
pean coalition it would be to her advantage to
have the Atlantic lines under American owner
ship; for were they under the British flag they
would be the prey Of hostile cruisers, the
British feet would be kept busy protecting
them instead Of raidng the enemy. and the
British food supply from America would De
seriously interfered with. On the other hand,
if they were under American control they would
be exempt from attack, and commerce and sup
plies would be uninterrupted: for he thinks no
European power or coalition would venture to
incur the wrath of the United States by placing
an embargo upon American commerce with
Great Britain and an effective blockade of all
British ports is not to be regarded as among
the possibilities. Given all uninterrupted 1000
supply from America, he firmly believes Crest
Britain could fight all Europe single handed.
We shall not undertake to decide whether the
pessimsm of Sir Robert Giffen or the optimism
of Colonel Maude is the more judicious and the
more warranted by facts. Each undoubtedly
has some apparent basis. To the outsider the
British shipping situation seems to be one that
calls not for carelessness, not for despair but
simply for practical recognition of facts ard
for action appropriate thereto. The American
Shipping Trust has got control of lis steamers
of less than $4,000 tons. Yet the rumored
British combination of Atlantic lines would
e@oo ofr
and according to "Lloyds Register the total
British mercantile feet comprises no less than
s1O7 steamers OF 127391s0 tons. These last
figures are about equal to those for all the rest
of the world-a trile less in number Of vessels
and somewhat more in tonnage. Surely the
power which owns half the steam shipping of
the whole world can afford TO regard the partial
alienation of per cent of its feet without fall
ing into panic.