New-York tribune., 1907-01-08
CUNAKD CHANGE LIKELY
Follo1cs White Star in Shifting MaH
SerUice from LiUerpool.

White Star Line had decided to part of
Its service from Liverpool and make Southamp
ton the terminal of its mail service the
practically confirmed rumors yesterday that the
Cunard Line would also go to Southampton
abandoning not only Liverpool but also Queens
town, th1s making itself strong rival of the
North German Lloyd the Hamburg American
and the White Star Line of the big Continental
traffic
The Cunard Lines boats are making Liv-
erpool in five days and few hours, and, with a
dock at Cherbourg as is intended in the
scheme, they can promise 10 land passengers on
the Continent in five days Saturday boat
according 10 the established record of the Cam
pania, could reach Cherbourg early Thursday
evening
The news that the Cunard people had such
plan in view caused much comment in steam
ship circles, especially among the big lines. The
plan. If carried out, will mean readjustment of
the Cunards entire service and an expenditure
of much money, but will bring thousands upon
thousands of dollars in return. That the Cunard
directors have had such plans in view for some
months past not denied by the local officials.
In fact. while no official would stand sponsor for
the assertion, it plainly shown that the
Cunard Line had determined to make itself the
first of all its rivals for the Continental service.
officials of the other lines shook their heads
when informed of the rumors. and said IT could
not he. They pointed out that the Cunard Line
had long standing contract with the British
government to carry the Irish mails and said it
could not very well abandon Queenstown. Others
argued that the Cunard people would easily find
a way Of getting out without appearing to vio
late its contract with the government.
Unless the Ship Subsidy bill is passed the
American Line will be the greatest sufferer by
he tba is
argued that there is not enough capital behind
the American Line to make il the sem
blance of rival to the big foreign lines.
That the Cunard people have been contem-
plating such a plan confirmed in a measure
by a cable dispatch from London, published in
yesterdays Tribune in which il declared that
the London y Southwestern Railway had de-
cded 10 build a dock at Southampton sixteen
acres in extent. According TO further details
learned yesterday. it will be 400 feet wide and
have depth of forty feet of water at low tide
There will be five quays, two Of them 1850 feet
long The others will he respectively $40 SIS
and 495 feet long. They will be capable of berth
ing quay both the mammoth Cunard
liners the Mauretania and the Lusitania, now
building.
London Jan. I'm answer to inquiry
at the Cunard offices this evening, a repre-
sentative Of The Associated Press official
ly informed that though Immediate changes
We're expected, the directors of the company
had had the subject under consideration for
a long tirue. and that It simply
question of time when the line would avail
itself of the facilities offered by Channel ports
il being indsputable that for Continental first
class traffic those ports possessed advantages
against which Liverpool was unable to compete
Sooner Or later, the directors believed they
must utilize those advantages in the interests
Of their company. and so far as some of their
ships were concerned il was possibly only
question of time.
There was unconhrmed rrirnor In Liverpool
to- night that two other lines contemplated
transferring some OF their steamers to other
ports.
This movement also is likely to exert consId-
erahle influence on the maritime importance OF
Liverpool and Southampton. In shipping cir
cleS there Is no doubt that Liverpool VIII main
tain its supremacy the chief Atlantic port
but the tendency is steadily in favor OF ports of
the English Channel owing 10 their proximity
to the Continent Southampton already IS pre-
pairing TO make heavy expenditures, including
the construction Of docks capable OF receiving
the largest liners during any stage Of the tide.
Another feature OF the proposed change which
is arousInc strong feeling is the effect on the
arrival Of the American mails. II is contended
that the mals will be greatly delayed by the
adoption Of the southampton route
Al the monthly meeting of the Urban Council
of Queenstown, held to-day, this aspect of the
change strongly criticised, and II was
pointed out that 10 send the malls to South
ampton would inconvenience two-thrds OF the
business people of England and the whole Of
Scotland and Ireland.
A committee of the council was appointed to
consider the whole subject, and this committee
will cooperate with other public bodies in the
United Kingdom whose interests affected
by the proposed changes
Sir Theodore V. s Angler. senior partner of
Angler Brothers, steamship owners. and former
chairman of the General Ship Owners Society.
in interview to-day. said:
This change certainly is a we'll advised move
and have little doubt that IT will Justify itself
in the results. 1t is not much a question of a
challenge from the British company to the Ger
mSn company as an open recognition that the
German policy is the right The White
Star Line is not initiating anything. but il is
following the example set long since by its great
German rival. Great Britain has had almost un-
disputed sway as the carrier of the world for
so long that she has become overconfdent Even
now, with rivals al their door. the great British
passenger lines look with some scorn upon the
poor passengers. whom they regard as necessary
evils, while the German companies recognize
themselves the servants of the passengers In
this they must admit that they have an able and
enthusiastic helper in the Emperor. His majesty
undoubtedly is the finest broker the German
companies could wish for. He is always on the
lookout for new avenues Of trade and new en-
terprises for his shippers. and in these enter
prises he backs them up consistently.
The opinion is generally expressed that the
English shippers must now be up and doing.
else they will find themselves left hopelessly
behind