The sun., 1916-11-26
Ruthless Commercial War of Compe.
tition Must Be Expected to Follow
the Declaration Of Peace

easier and more economical ersft -
handle"
According to the oficiai figures.
American shipyards hold to-dsy con
tracts totalling "A value of more than
800, 600, 900. They are making profts
despite the soaring prices OF materials
and labor. But the drawback to this
situation, so far as 1t concerns the
future Of the industry. lies In the share
which foreign ownership represents in
this tonnage.
On the Pacific coast alone S35. 00o,.
900 worth of tonnage is booked for
foreigners. n accordingly every one
Of those ships IL II potential competitor
OF American vessels and n menace to
the upbuildlng of the American mef.
chant marine in time to hold the ovsr.
sea trade that has come to this coun.
try, that II. to hold II under conditions
that should reasonably promise best
for commercial expansion. There In
another side to this state of affairs
which will have a direct bearing upon
the continued prosperity OF our ship.
yards.
We are led to suppose that our
building plants will rave enough to do
hereafter TO keep them thriving for
"A period OF at least ten years. and this
is assumed principally upon the basis
of the present situation abroad. Yet
no less an authority than the Liver
pool Journal Of com merCr has very
recently given figures that show the
BRITISH mercantile marine to he short
n matter of something over 1000. 900
tons, and II Is also brought out that
the British Admiralty controls 90 per
cent. of the merchant vessels. The
British are In no wise blind to the
problem that will bc theirs in the years
following the restoration ~ peace, and
their attitude concerns us and the
future of shipbuilding here as we'll a.
the upbuilding OF II merchant fleet.
Mr.. Eunciman. President OF the Brit
ish Board OF Trade, has said: After
the wal neutra; ship owners will be in
a very powerful position on account OF
the huge profits which they are maxi
ing out OF the war, for this capital will
undoubtedly find profitable employ.
ment In the carrying trade for years
To come. Tho competition viii be ex-
ceedincly keen and ship owners should
not be> unduly handicapped now or
Wv W Nv iIl'n Nilfl INC NOnteSI De-
tween the nations of the world once
more assumes a more peaceful char
acter."
Therefore in order TO bring about
an amalgamation Of interests and "a
concentration Of efforts IL Is urged
that shiphlilding work In Great Brit
ain be carried out under the direction
or n dictator. a man familiar with the
shiphuilding industry. of strong char
aoter and possessed of sound Judgment
and eminent ability. Leading up to
this end. 1t is reported that England
has lately passed an act which pro-
hibits the building of foreign vessels
in Great Britain for a period OF ten
! years after the restoration Of peace.
And there arc good reasons TO believe
that Germany, II not France as well,
will pursue a somewhat similar policy
in the rehabilitation of their trade
fleets.
When these great nations return
10 their accustomed fields of m
there will he more ships anoat for
oversee trade and therefore not 30
great a need for neutral nations to
seek alien aid In the expansion Of
their merchant fleets. At tho same
time tho total tonnage in world trade
will lead 10 keen competition and for
cign owners. because of the food scale
II lower wages acceptable under
their flags. viii have "A decided ad-
vantage Owe the American shipowner.
In consequence there may he a re-
action here in the shipbuilding busi-
ness. This is the phase Of the matter
hat the older men In the shipbuilding
business keep constantly before them.
because they realize that any enduring
prosperity will hinge as a matter OF
course and fundamentally upon the
existence and the maintenance OF a
large merchant marine fleet. The new
s%hipyardS that have come into being
are generally managed by men that
realize the uncertainty lurking In the
years to come and they are charging
enough for their work to-day. which
viii probably keep them busy for two
or three years, 10 reap a handsome
profit and to cover their Investments
should tho plants cease operation at
the end of this brief period,
AZ Mr., Coz has said: We are reap
lng our harvest though the misfor-
tunes of others and not by reason of
any effort on the part Of our Govern
men, To- promote the building here Of
merchant craft for oversee trade.
looming ~ things appear on the
surface, at heart the situation il rotten
80 far rs Il concerns tho future"