The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-01-19
Schwab's Plants Said to be Unable to Fill All Big
 Orders on Hand
OTHERS TO FOLLOW
 FROM ACROSS OCEAN
American Shipbuilders Have Demon strated That They Can Build a Complete Submarine With
 in Three Weeks
By HOLLAND

New York. January 1s.-(Special.)-If rlny proof were needed that our exports Ire now phenomenal in the amount and In the money value of them it would be furnished, inferentially at least, by the Recent establishment in New York city Pf vast credit facilities for the payment
 If the goods bought in the United States by foreign nations. Of course. the cus- om house reports officially certify to the magnitude of these exports. but not un- il detailed reports are made public show .ng what kind of commodities have been kxported can it be learned how much of hese exports represents foreign demand Sn account of the European war and how |nuch represents the exports of what may De called peaceful commodities.
 . One thing is certain and that is that f American manufacturing plants were hrger. at least those engaged in the manufacture of commodities ordered by kelligerents and neutral nations, the
 mount of the exports would now be considerably increased. Some of the in-
 ustries find themselves cramped for fa- ilities and some have been purchasing dditional manufacturing plants.
 Recently a statement has come from Bethlehem. Pa, intimating that the steel Industry established there finds itself in ome embarrassment by reason of the act that it's facilities for manufacturing, great as they are, are not equal to he demands which are made upon it for commodities principally to be used in arrying on the war or in protecting the
 elligerent nations from possible assault. The belief is prevalent that had 1t not
 een for the great rush of orders which his industry has received MT. Schwab would not have found it expedient to
 lake a hurried visit to London for the
 urpose of explaining to the war author
 ties of Great Britain that he would be
 nable to fulfil a contract for stbna-
 ines or for parts of submarines which would be assembled in England. The ,rea-
 ons given. which were no doubt sub-
 tantially true, were that it had been earned by direct communication with the
 Administration at Washington that the
 xport of materials of this kind would
 ot be favored by the government. There
 vas even fntimation that the state de-
 artment was persuaded that exports of
 hat kind would be in violation of the ederal statutes.
 It is curious fact that within a few Hours after MT. Schwab departed from he England war office, having obtained
 arge contracts for the building of the
 arious parts of submarines, the fact
 taa oh hfoip ofo Of
 ind was known to the trade in the Jnited States. MT. Schwab was not re- ponsible for this news since he pre- frved a most discreet silence. Of course he English government itself did not
 ermit the news to leak out. Somebody
 earned of it. however, and information
 yas sent under the sea as fast as the
 cean cable could operate. Upon MT
 chwab's return to the United States, he as convinced that the facilities of the Bethlehem industry would be taxed to Their utmost of these contracts were car + ed out. Acting with wisdom, he also Hut himself in communication with the |Itate department and was informed. as lis friends have intimated. that the de- |tartment did not look with favor upon he export of materials of that kind 4hereupon he visited London again sc nat he might make explanation in per Non of the reasons why he wanted to ave the contract cancelled.
 But even had the state department ex- Pressed no opinion one way or the other bout the export of commodities which ere to be assembled in Great Britain |N1 that submarines could be completed Itr. Schwab might have been compelled /D seek some change in the terms of the { xontract. That at least is the preva-
 ent opinion in the trade. and it is based
 pon the belief that his industry, as is the