Los Angeles herald., 1909-07-31
THE STRAITS SETTLEMENTS
Iv-GERMANs I'm THE ORIENT
By Frederic j. Haskln

ture is that one is optimistic and ths
other somewhat apprehensive.
Aside from his determination 10 VIA
NV "sticktoitlveness, the German
makes an energetic eftort TO hho out
lust what is wanted by the buyers III
the market he inVades. Ana ne manu-
facfures goods to meet these requird-
ments. 1t makes no difference TO MIN
that somthing else, possibly something
better from the European standpoint,
or superior from the point or view OF
any one who Is capable or sound
judgment, is sold in the German cltles'
The important point is to make the ar
ticle that most readily sells where tho
effort Is being made to sell 1t. Tho
British error is to hold that what is
good enough for the purchaser at
home" should-flnd favor with the
heather, and that the heather should
not be catered to, but educated to
know what he should desire.
Not the smallest part of the German
campaign of aggression in the Orient
is the effort-decidedly expensive at
present-to win the passenger traffic
between European and far eastern
ports and between Europe and Austria
liza. 1t was a half century ago that
famous American traveller and writer
of books, voyaging from Europe to In
dltt anu TIC AullliGI ttlGl ia an AAAb AlSA
steamer, put down in his journal the
statement that certain steam naviga-
tion company, being monopoly Is,
like all monopolies, n model of mean
ness" There is still complaint upon
the part of the travelling public that
the English ships which until recently
enjoyed q virtual monopoly of the
passenger traffic to the east, have fol-
lowed the plan of making dividends
rather than making friends of their pa
irons. Finding in this situation an op-
portunity for advancing their inter
ests, the Germans have left nothing
undone in an effort to court favor with
those who so down to the sea in
ships.
The custom OF serving tea at o'clock
III the AFTERNOON Is a fixture in England
and long established custom on Eng
lish ships. Upon the large British lin
ers in eastern waters the passengers
may so to the dining saloon for tea or
SO without 1t. The German liners not
cnly serve tea on deck, but also serve
at the tea hour foods and beverages
aimed at the taste of the large part of
the travelling public that does not like
tea. In more important things there is
the same effort to meet the demands
or the patrons rather than educate tho
public to satisfy itself with customs
that reflect a national idea of what
should be expected The result is that
the German steamers are growing in
popularity with the general public, and
by comparison their rivals are suffer-
ing in the estimation of many travel
ers. While the proportion of German
name plates upon the doors of Singa-
pore business houses is increasing, the
liners and cargo boats flying the kali
ser's flag are coming out from tha
European ports with goods In their
holds and passengers in their cabins
that formerly belonged to the English
as a matter of course.
The facts in the case having become
plain to many thinking Englishmen,
discussion of the outlook is rife I'm the
east and in certain quarters "at home"
The English Oriental press and some of
the eastern correspondents of London
newspapers comment freely upon the
fact that trade is slipping through the
fingers of their countrywen into the
hands of the Germans-and 1t may be
said In passing the Japanese and Chi
nese. Sport is sapping our genius for
expansion" thunders one well informed
critic, writing from the east to his
home paper. 1.-THE flannel type Of Brit
on" writes another, SHOULD reflect Sc
riously whether 1t is worth while to let
love of clubs and sport oust US from
the commercial field"
fire of criticism from their fellow coun-
trymen. the methods and habits of the
Briton in the east are unchanged. The
average clerk in British commercial
house in Singapore belongs to more
social and sporting clubs than a
wealthy retired business man In New
York Often, as n result, he is a bor-
rover from a Tamil money lender.
While the Germans disregard holi-
days, the British have in the orient in
addition to. nine regular bank holi-
days" a year, holidays declared in
favor of spring and autumn race meet
ings and cricket contests, bringing the
total up to nearly one month in twelve.
This does not include the long "home
leave taken now and then by every
Briton in the orient. The Englishman
may live the longer for his temperate
ness in industry and devotion to sport,
but the British ascendency in eastern
trade, bought at a heavy price In blood
and treasure, is feeling the effect.
TOmOrrow-America In the Philippines: 1.
Uplifting the Filipino.