Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-08-26
UNITED STATES HAS NOT AS YET
coRRALED BIG END OF eusI-
NESS OF UNIVERSE.
MAY NOT BE ABLE TO
HOLD GROUND GAINED
War Has Not Shifted Trade Of World
j. According to Data Gathered by Ma.
tional City Bank Of New York-Evi-
dence at Hand That Business 10 Be-
ing NorraIized.
Especial Correspondence.

Washington. Aug. 26.--It is too early
for the United States to crow about
capture of the trade of the world. The
facts seem to be that this country is
beginning to lay siege to the worlds
trade with a certain measure of addi-
tional energy and intelligence and that
1t is making some progress but that It
is long way from the capture of its
objective
Moreover should the war end sud-
denly and the great commercial ma
tons of Europe, such as Germany.
England, France, and others resume
their activities of peaceful times-re
enforcing those activities because Of
sheer necessity-there is nothing in the
situation to show the United States
could hold the ground it has gained.
Data on the question whether the
war has shifted the trade of the world
has just been issued by the National
City Bank of New York This data
does not show there has been such a
shifting as might have been suppos ed.
True, this country Is buying and sell-
ing in largely increased amounts but
it is shown that Englands commerce
is growing steadily up to its former
strength. Spain is capturing good bus
mess, Scandinavia and Holland are
probably obtaining new commercial
connections and with less than half
OF the lost commerce of the Teutonic
allies accounted for. the preponderance
of world trade still focuses in the Eng
lish channel
Business Being Normalized.
Much new trade is taking the Amer
lean direction but II is a misapprehen-
sion to suppose this has become the
great trade center Of the world. The
commerce of the country with South
America. Asia, Africa and Oceania has
increased nearly one third Sales to
these continents have grown steadily
and the June movement was so large
that 1t pointed to an aggregate Of
$500, 100000 to s500,o00.O00 greater for
the calendar year 1915 than ii was in
1914.
But. as the data of the National
City Bank shows, while gazing on
these facts, Americans are apt to lose
sight of what has been going on else
where. International commerce is es-
timated to have fallen to wo-thirds
its ordinary volume right after the war
opened. But in recent months, there
has been steady naturalization of the
business affairs and commerce of all
the peaceful nations. This extended
even to some OF those in the war
| Ii is worth while to see what Eng
land has been doing. This is the case
| partly because England is still the
great trader Of the nations and partly
because TIC question IS often ,iiscu ssed
as to how far the submarine war is
! Gripping her. 1t appears that since
the first Of the calendar year, the
English export business recovered
steadily until in June it was only
about Is per cent below the 1914 vol
ume In June. English imports have
been kept from to 90 per cent above
last years, in increasing ratio. since
! the beginning of Germany's submarine
activities. Export of English products
| in January was over 40 per cent below
| the 1914 mark. but in June it was only
| 1914 per cent below
! Not only does this demonstrate thai
| the United States still has powerful
rivalry in England but those nations
of Europe which have remained al
peace have hustled for business anG
have got it.
| Must Not Overlook Japan.
l Nor is Japan to be overlooked. She
is reported to be actively going after
trade in South America and in all the
countries on the Pacific.
The lesson of the situation Is thai
| the United States though it has cap.
| tured great deal of trade by reason
| of REORGANIZATION OF trade activ tiles oil
! Europe because of the war, can not ex-
pect to hold trade abroad in the fierce
competition which will follow the wal
unless 1t organizes for it.
! This subject is bound to come in fol
a great deal of discussion In congres!
when 1t meets next winter. No doub
1T will strengthen the movement FOL
tgovernmsnt-owned merchant vessels
which the president is expected t.
urge with renewed yigor.