The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1916-04-11
AS Tonnage is Being Requisi-
toned and Dearth is Re-
Elected in High Rates.


LONDON, April 11-Grave concern
is being felt in British shipping cir
cles regarding the future Of British
shipping. Already something over
twenty-five per cent Of British-owned
tonnage has been requisitioned by the
admiralty in connection with the war,
and the great dearth Of tonnage is re-
fected in the present high rates Of
freight.
Shipowners have been subjected to
a large amount Of criticism owing to
the high profits which they are max
ing, but a prominent shipowner in
London has pointed out that the pres
ent condition Of affairs is far from sat
isfactory from the shipowner's point Of
view.
"True, !" he said, 1--WE are earning big
profits now, but we have the future to
think Of. There are not enough ships
to 20 around, and while we are having
TO pay extra wages and war bonuses to
the crews, increased charges for bunk
err coal and delays in port owing to
congestion, the neutral is stepping In
and getting the carrying trade which
was formerly in the hands Of the Brit
ish.
Then there is another vital point:
AT present nearly all the ship repair
ing and building yards are full up with
work for the admiralty, and we cannot
get our boats overhauled, much less
place orders for new vessels, for there
is not single shipbuilder in England
today who will guarantee delivery,
consequently.,we cannot possibly re-
Mace losses caused by submarines and
mines, so that the position Of the ship
owners in England. is anything but
pleasant. The losses due to the war
have been much greater than is gen.
orally realized, and scarcely one OF the
lost boats has been replaced.
Neutral Trade Advantage.
again, there Is the question OF
licenses. While we in England have
to obtain license to carry certain
goods, and trade between certain ports,
the neutral owner can step in and take
the trade from under our noses, and
there are merchants anxious to guar
antee delivery Of shipments who are
only too ready to send them goods in
neutral bottoms, simply because these
neutrals are free from requisition.
"Take a case which occurred quite
recently. One of our cargo boats was
chartered to sail from London, and
we had almost completed the loading
when It was reqhisitioned. He had
another steamer sailing from Liver
pool, and the cargo of the boat loading
in London was unshipped and for
warded to Liverpool by rail, and upon
delivery there, our Liverpool boat was
also placed under requisition. and con-
sequently the cargo YVES in the end
shipped In neutral steamer.
THE majority Of boats which before
the war were engaged in the coal trade
are under reouisition, and in conse-
quence, neutrals have stepped in and
are benefitting by the high rates paid
from Tyne to London, and Tyne to the
Mediterranean. AS much as sixty
shillings per ton has been paid for a
voyage from the Tyne to Genoa with
coal. against the average Of seven
shillings six pence per ton for the
same voyage two years ago.
No Guarantee Of Delivery.
"lf we could obtain guarantee of de-
livery, we should be quite prepared to
place orders for new steamers. despite
the high prices prevailing for all
classes of building material. Unless
the government takes action very soon.
the outlook for British shipping will
be most critical"
It is learned in shipbuilding circles,
that there are numerous inquiries for
new tonnage, but very few contracts
have been placed. pending the decision
Of the government regarding work on
merchant ships.
Representations have been made to
the government by! deputation repre-
senting both shipbuilders and ship
owners with view to taking men OF
war work" and placing them upon
ordinary merchant work. but owing
to the great scarcity OF skilled labor.