New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-07-30

The citizen Of the United States
travelling abroad always comments on
the absence Of the American flag in
foreign ports. Nowhere, however, Is
the lack Of adequate American ship
ming more conspicuous than in South
America. and nowhere Is the handicsp
under which we struggle, through this
',ek Of ships. more apparent than IN
orr handling Of commerce with these
countries.
We have seen at home the need Of
,oo3 railroad systems in the develop
~, Of the newer sections of our
,oys,ry. We realized many years ago
hat the people. as whole, must ala
4, ,be upbuilding Of these railroads,
.o5rsrating through their government
3, the common interest. As we came
- understand transportation better
,bs influence Of preferred rates, Of
determinations and rebates became
.iss- 20 us. but the fact that al
hose elements are involved in the
--oveuert OF merchandise by sea, as
we'll as by land, seems 70 have been
almost entirely overlooked by our
-.or'e. Is 3 whole. As a result, our
use Of the splendid dock systems
-lieb have been constructed I'M the
-,-.s Of the east coast Of South Amer
~, is almost negligible. The people oil
ssse countries have appreciated fully
... i,Do-tance OF shipping to genera
,-orress: they have expended enormous
ems Of money for the maintenance
~ .be;r barbors AMI in providing the
mos. up-to-date facilities for the
I.,5,irr o, the goods None Of the
IA World ports have better machln-
.rv These conveniences are USED 10
The full bv the shipping OF the EURO
res- nations. Under peace conolflohS'
rprone has the advantage OF service
s,rr 20 fve times better than ours
An average Of about fifty cargo shlpS
ror+b sail from the harbor OF klo
10 Janiero. Montevidlo and b4eho9
Av-es 20 English ports. mere aIc
about forty cargo SHIPS a month i Io.l'
these same ports 70 " rrua4 C 49,
TN I+alv. Spain. France and Portugal
the average is forty ID sixty shlps
nontblv. To the United states there
ave about ten ships month undef
he American flag. and perhaps nIteeh
more under foreign flags. SNsc'
,rro,eration on a monthly basis IS dli-
sc,It because of variations IN the
t~s;~ess hut the crux of ithe situation
,s rat our shipping SERVICE as COM
-.-e5 with that Of Europe Is so IN
ts-;or +ba+ there is no comparison.
In the passenger service there IS IN
ro--rsl times. a first class steamer
,rovi8ing excellent accom-, modftlons al
,sssorsbie rates. sailing to- Europe
prsrtcslly every day ffora these ports
AZ against this. in the service or the
United States there is rSally out one
rroup Of four steamers carrying pas
sergers which can be CONSIDERED A.
providing anything Ike. pr accolilillo-
dsuons One Of these shl2s sans 80
two weeks ships Of some OF me lesseI
Ines sail a. like intervals, out tney are
avoided by travellers whenever possl-
be These passenger flps pel"eo''
New York and Buenos hyres STOP a.
certain ports en- route ne lQ'aI az
lance direct is 5,S7l nsuuc1l mlIes'
Their srecd IS slow. and twenty-th rec
20 -wenty-sx days is co'sumed IN the
Journey The distance rrom huehos
Avres 90 Southampton,' LnElaho' ls
5-f2 nautical miles, or only lU9 nIl'e
less than 90 New York, yet the Journey
from Buenos Ayres 70 Liverpool on the
good ships IS made in fifYen 10 sixteen
DAYS under ordinary conriuohs' V"Ii
recently. a. result Of the war wv OF
ne four comfortable pal senger shlps
operating 20 Buenos AYES rom our
country have been tskenff. Inc me
Is controlled in England nd these Two
ships were requisitioned b. the brltlsn
government. As a result, passenger
ssiIings have now been reduced TO prac-
tcallv one a month, and II is IMPOSE
BE 20 say how long this curta'lment
will continue. The difference IN service
Lo.,,ean ENGLAND and the Argentine
and the United Statess and Buehos
Avres is typical Of the fther ports on
.-o east coast. Il meahs that. mer-
chants in these countries can now com
nuricate By mail with Etghsh or Con
tirental houses in little pore IMAM one
ttlf the time II taxes 10 90 business
with the United States. IL also eN'
plains why leading men 81 these coun.
tres 20 so frequently 20 %urope' taxing
their entire families. apd SO seIoom
come ~ the United States. The very
item of travel of this character gives
tremendous impetus to the development
% business.
They Don't Know the u. 5.
There are but very few of the South
American leaders who have seen or
lnow the United States, but the num-
Der who are thoroughly familiar with
Iurope. who send their children TO be
cheated there and who buy there
Usrvtbing for the furnishing Of their
bones. is surprising. The South amer,
an citizen who does come 20 the cnlled
oates and who has an opportunity TO
ally see something of the country,
I'd who understands the spirit OF our
.ople. returns home a most enthusiast
uc friend and well-wisher. The dlsln-
,erested. unreserved praise which prac-
tc6llv all Of these leaders give 70 us
when they return home has had ire
nendous effect in promoting better
understandings
The steamship service of the United
states 10 the west coast, as compared
with that Of the European countries,
was improving somewhat before the
war, as result Of the opening OF the
Panama Canal, but generally speak
ing, the European service continues
vastly Superior 10 ours.
No matter how well-informed one
may be as 20 the shipping situation,
there can be no realization Of the serl-
Gus effect on us Of the lack Of American
vessels, except by visiting the countries
and talking with business men and
hinanciers. It is quite impossible for
me South Americans TO understand
why the United States has permitted