Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-05
AN AUXILIARY WAR FLEET
Can Be Made Out of Her Merchant
Marine.
ITS INCREASE IN THIRTY YEARS
Has Been Ill Per Cent - How the
Question of Subsidies ia
Dealt With.

haiser william is once more renewing
his efforts toward a greater German navy.
spurred probably by the same motives
which President Roosevelt has in relation
TO the ACKNOWLEDGMENT of the American
navy. As 1t has often been stated. Ger
many takes greater interest in her
army but now that France is preparing
10 iortily Brest on heavy basis, the en-
pre- is studying the means of protecting
her vast commercial maritime interests.
such as those Of Bremen and Hamburg.
moreover. Germany has developed an In
teresting and feasible plan which central
ICES her merchant marine, which could be
converted into an auxiliary war fleet.
Germany's Merchant Marine,
Germanys merchant marine has so
marvelously developed that 1 deem It A
duty to give brief history of it." said a
diplomat today. While France. England
ana America are centering their efforts
toward larger and more costly battle
SHIPS, and for the moment forget the utiI-
lty or their respective merchant fleets.
Germany has an eye on both her navies
From tonnage of 9S23 o5 in 1870 the en-,
pres merchant marine has mounted TO
Z'Uaa,33 in 1901 (these are the latest sta
tlstlcs | have) showing that in thirty
years the increase amounts to Iii per cent
me increase, moreover, is wholly In
steam vessels. as sailing vessels have
decreased In tonnage just as they have
deprecated In value and efficiency Ham
burgS feet now surpasses that Of all
france This port, which in 1850 was
connected with America by a single line
win single vessel, is now served by
about 10 lines, Of which seventy are Ger
man. Every international port in the
world Is reached by German steamers. and
germany not only runs England close
second Tor maritime position, but will
nsht the United States for naval su-
prenacy.
No other country can show in it's ports
more ships flying it's own colors than
those with the English flag. Besides, the
German ships are largely built at home
ana in this wise they are more reason
able In cost and more serviceable The
United States is another country which
has recognized home building as the best
OF ships of more than 100000 TONS Eng
land and Germany have four to America $
one, and ten to Frances one.
Question Of Subsidies.
1.-The American Congress has been con-
siderng this session a ship subsidy bill
This question of government subsidies
throughout the world is one which has
as many drawbacks as it has good points
The German government encourages home
construction. but not by direct subsidies
1t furnishes model yards, docks and ap-
planes, and acts Intermediary be-
tween constructors and steel makers Of
fering reduced railroad rates to the lat
ter In compensation for any discounts
given to the former This avoids the evil
existing in France, where constructors
buy materials-or, rather. ships-in bad
condition in England. fix them up in
French yards and collect the government
subsidy. Likewise. Germany refuses to
pay the subsidies for mileage that
French ships get for sailing from port to
port loaded with ballast The Hamburg
line receives no subvention. and the North
German Lloyd none for most of its lines.
The German government" said the
diplomat has the right to take over mer-
chant vessels In time of war without,
however, making this a pretext for subsi-
dies. These are granted only where Ger
man bottoms are trying to open up new
markets for trade. When 1t Is necessary
TO anchor for hours In an open port
TO take a few tons of freight or to spend
900 marks to gain fifty, the government
aids the steamship lines.