The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1907-12-13
NO BLUFF
The CLAIM
PACIFIC MAIL BOATS MAY BE
PLACED UNDER BRITISH FLAG
IF CONDITIONS ARE NOT BETTE


Schwerin's declaration that he will
take the Pacific Mail boats off this
ocean, that the company would bel
forced to retire from business unless
the United States Government policy
of interference and unwise legislation
is changed is said to be no blum
aboard the S. S. China of the Pacific
Mail fleet which arrived this morning
from the Orient
There are those on the China who
are in close touch with headquarters
of the Pacific Mail and it is declared
that unless something develops in the
present session of Congress to mate
rally change conditions the Pacific
Malls nineteen steamships will haul
down the Stars and Stripes and go UNI
der the British flag
1t has been said, said The Stars
informant, that Schwerin's talk Is
only bluff and a play for subsidy, but
there is truth in every word he says
and the promise to take off the Pacific
Mail boats next April will be fulfilled
unless the line receives better treat
ment at the hands of the government,
The policy of the United States
Government in regard to shipping in
this ocean wih if persisted in, drive
out the American flag.
"The only salvation of the Pacific
Mail Company, unless conditions are
very much changed between now and
April next, will be to go under the
British flag and such a deal would not
take long to arrange for there have al
ready been overtures and the project
has been considered. The purchase OF
the Pacific Mail boats by British
syndicate is not by any means improb-
able, the only consideration standing
in the way, according to present indi-
cations, is the fact that the vessels
would not be able, after taking Brit
ish register, to go back under the Am
erican flag and there is the possibility
that such a return might be desired.
The China was built in England
and it would be like going home Tor
her to change her register
! Reporting from Kobe Consul Hun
ter Sharp says that the increased trade
| on the Pacific has led to many of the
steamship companies adding to their
fleet carrying passengers and freight.
AS an illustration he cites the follow
ing instances:
| Plans for two new Empress steam
ers to improve the fast Canadian Pa
cific Railways mail service have al
ready been approved. The Boston
| TOwbOat Company has taken the Brit
Ish steamers Kumeric and Suver1c, OF
tonnage of $500 each, to run in con-
nection with the American steamers
Shawmut and fremont, tonnage 6195
each, on the run from Seattle to Hong
kong via Manila,
The French Steamship Company,
Chargeurs Reunis, is competing for
the rOund-the-wOrld trade from the
United Kingdom and Europe to the
north Pacific coast via the Orient. Or
ders have been given by the French
company for four new steamers, to be
in commission before six months have
| elapsed. They are to be 10000 tons,
and two of them, the Ouessant and
SOrse, are being built in France, and
two the Malta and Ceylon, in Eng
! land. 1t is the purpose of the company
] to build up a passenger trade between
Seattle, San Francisco, and the ports
of Central and South America, and
the boats will be among the most mod
ern passenger and freight steamers in
/ the world.
! The Togo Kisen Kaisha is to replace
its present fleet-the America Maru,
Hongkong Maru, and Nippon Maru-
with three larger steamers, two of
which are now building. These 9TH
er steamers when taken off the San
| Francisco run will ply between the
Orient and South American ports. The
! new vessels will be 1900 tons each,
which is 1000 tons greater than the
steamers now in service. They will be
equipped with turbine engines and
will use oil as fuel.
The Osaka ShOsen Kaisha has now
in course Of construction six steamers
of gross tonnage 5000 each. These
steamers are to run between Japan
and Pacific ports and are to be used
/ exclusively as freight carriers.
While the Pacific Mail complains OF
Uncle Sans treatment foreigners are
gathering the plums.
RAILROAD INCREASES CAPITAL.
The West Hawaii Railway Company,
Ltd, has increased its CAPITAL stock