New-York tribune., 1908-01-11
UNITE FOR OCEAN WAR
GERMANS FIGHT BRITISH.
Importance of Hamburg wg-4merican
and LI0gd 4 greement.

Ts-emen Jan 10-The North German Lloyd
Steamship Company and the Hamburg-Ameri-
can Steamship Company have definitely agreed
70 work in unison in the matter of the North
American and East Asiatic shipping of the two
lines The agreement is to last for four years.
The Hamburg company withdraws from the
passenger traffic to the Far East, receiving for
.his concession certain advantages. which have
uot been made public. concerning the steerage
business to The United States. The two COM
panies have reached an agreement also in the
matter of the steamers that have been taking
pleasure parties on special tours
When asked for an explanation Of the agree
Iaent the officials CT the North German Lloyd
replied: 1t refers to an arrangement between
the two lines in the matter of North American
and East Asiatic shipping"
Herr Ballin. director general of the Hamburg
company, said: The agreement is for four
years. 1t secures the joint operation Of the two
companies in the North Atlantic. well as in
the Eastern and African trade"
The local representatives Of the Hamburg Anerl-
and North German Lloyd lines were unable
yesterday 10 give any details of the four-year
agreement cf the two German lines Gustav n
Schwab. general manager of the North German
Lloyd Line. merely confirmed the report reeeiNeu
from Bremen He said there had been dlrlculueS
in the Oriental and African trade of the two COM
panies and MISUNDERSTANDING the freight rates
Of the North Atlantic business. and that these mao
been adjusted Emil L Eoas. resident director ana
general manager Of the Hamburg American Line
declined talk Of the agreement.
Soon after the report was received from Bremen
the Eamburg-Anerican Line announced reduc-
ZION of its second cabin rate on all steamers OF
the New York and Hamburg service The new
rate will go into effect al once The second caolH
rate on the steamers kaiserin Auguste Nlclorld
and Amerika was ST. while SO was chafsed ioI
second cabin transportation on the steamers feai
sylvania Patricia, Pretoria and Graf NaIdersee-
The new rate is S3s for second cabin room on
any Of these steamers The rate on the DeN'SO
land however. viii be maintained at $44 1he cut
in rates Will be in effect until May !.
With The coalition of the German lines, the rate
war looks serious for the British passenger lines
Il :s apparent that the HambUrS-AInerlcan and
North German Lloyd lines which have not been
friendly disposed toward each other for some time
have united TO fight the British lines, which are
divided into fighting factions with the so-called
trlsf on one side and the Cunard Line the other
Possibly the most significant indication OF the
intention Of the German lines break in heavily
on the British patronage was the announcement
made Yesterday by the Hamburg-Amer1can Line
that hereafter the steamers Pretoria Patricia
Pennsylvania and Graf WaldeTsee would resume
calling al Plymouth and Cherbourg. This VIII
enable them with their reduced second cabin rate,
10 get much Of the eastbound trafic for London
and Paris.
Il vss said Yesterday that the Hamhurg-Arnerican
Line is likely 10 run into difficulties with and come
rnder the restrictions Of the British merchants
shining act Of 1906 if it carries passengers TO
Plymouth at the S38 rate. Tie law vas passed by
the British Parliament while the Lusitania and
the Nauretana, Of the Cunard Line, were IN course
Of construction.