The Washington times., 1916-01-02
Suez Closing Adds to
Pressure Of Shipping
Great Opportunity Lost BY America Unless Panama
Ditch Is Put Back Into Operation
Haven't Begun to Master Situation.
By JUDsoN c. wELLIVER.

The withdrawal of a number OF the
far Eastern steamship lines from the
suez Canal route between Orient and
occident Is expected to have a mark
ed effect on the worlds shipping sit
uation.
There is not anything like enough
shipping, even with the shortest
routes available, to do the worlds
business. The Panama and Suez
canals were both peculiarly necessary
because on the long trade routes
they Increased vastly the capacity
of the existing shipping. With Pan
anna still only opened to boats of
light draft, and much uncertainty
whether even to this extent II can
remain open permanently, and with
suez closed to a large volume of
shipping that has used 1t for many
years, the pressure of shipping will
be more serious than ever before.
Driven on BY U-BOats.
1t is understood that the British
naval authorities have directed Her.
culean efforts to conquer the subma-
rines that have been playing havoc in
the Mediterranean. The methods Of
coping with them which proved so
successful in the narrow waters
around the British Islands are not
considered by naval men to be entire.
ly adapted to the new task in the
Mediterranean. While naval men be-
lieve that within a few months the
problem Will be measurably solved,
yet there is a feeling that unless the
Adriatic can at length be entirely
closed to ingress and egress of the
underwater vessels, the struggle for
fhA Mediterranean, will rive m NJ
test of methods for handling these
terrors.
Meanwhile a number of steamship
lines have concluded that discretion is
the better part of valor. and are dl-
verting their vessels to the longer and
more expensive route around the Afri-
can continent. There is an immense
volume of trade that would be diverted
from the Suez to the Panama route IL
only Panama were in commission and
certain to be kept so. II is positive
calamity to American interest in the
Panama route. that just at the time
when Suez has to be put under the
ban because of war hazards. Panama Is
not in condition to invite the whole
Oriental business. But for the slides
at Culebra, the Panama route would
have seen an increase In business in
1916 that would have broken all pos
sible calculations. u is impossible quite
to realize the prestige and Importance
that would have accrued to the Ameri-
can route II the great far eastern steam
ship lines could have been turned to II.
Such an opportunity was never inn
agined by the experts who tried to
forecast Panama's business.
Great Chance for America.
Realization of these opportunities,
which will be lost unless the Panama
ditch is put back into commission just
as soon as possible. Is inspiring special
In Washington. regarding the
proposed investigation OF the truth
about Panama. The investigation. how
ever, suddenly has become less import
ant than the development of measures
quickly to remedy present troubles. The
chance is presented for America to rem
der an immense service to the commerce
of the whole world; and everybody
connected with the administration OF
the canal fully realizes It,
Shutting up. in part, the Panama
route has given the railroads a little
respite from their difficulties in adjust
ing traffic to the new conditions. The
public has not been given much infor-
nation about the far-reaching effects
which this canals opening has had ON
American railroad conditions. The
railroads, despite all efforts to prepare
themselves in advance for the new ad-
iustment found themselves confronted
by many conditions that could not be