The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1917-10-16
N|PPONESE
. MERCHANT FLEET
ISFAR TOO GREAT
"Japan's Achievements Almost
Nothing N Comparison With
What America Has Done"

freight market has witnessed radical
beside what has been achieved by the
United States in this field of CONNER
cial activity japan has done almost
nothing says Mr.. Matsumura Of the
Osaka Sht\,n in an interview in the
tfJapan Advertiser. ~
In his opinion the prosperity Of the
United States and Japan in this respect
has been brought about chiefly through
Germany q submarine warfare, which
has destroyed o large percentage Of the
world 3 merchant marine, but it is also
right TO attribute IL to the greater use
Of bottoms FOR war purposes by the bel.
ligerent powers.
Great Britain has already lost
nearly forty-fve percent Of her mer-
chant marine, y said he, lowing to
Germany q ravages. Besides, she has
withdrawn many big merchantmen from
commercial uses TO carry troops and
| their requirements. Thus the greater
part Of her tramp fleet Is not available
for commercial purposes. Some regu.
lar liners have also been taken away
from the trade routes where they had
gained firm footing through many
years steady work.
| From the Far East, for instance, -
continued Mr.. Matsumura, "many well
known liners have gone. Judging from
the reports recently read by the d.
rectors of the different British lines
at their annual meetings, the results
I Of this wholesale withdrawal Of mer-
chantmen are viewed with anxiety.
The place thus vacated is being filed
rapidly by Japanese bottoms. The new
Corners will gain q permanent footing
4 and IL will be difficult for the British
lines to re-establish their influence.
Moreover, they will not have boats
enough to do that. ,,,s. ...,l., * :
Shipping Expansion Of United States
| TIf Great Britain can afford to re-
lease her shipbuilding yards from war
service the loss can be easily made
good, but for the present nothing will
be more difficult for that country to
achieve. At least 100000 tons of boats
are planned by her to be built during
the year, but il is too little to fill the
gap. The United States, on the other
hand, has been quite successful in en-
larging her merchant marine" he said
"sinee the war opened. Although nc
accurate figure is available at present
il is beyond a doubt that her feet has
been more than doubled. Moreover, she
is going to build a large number OF
steel and wobden ships for commercial
use. In the Far East the liners under
the Stars and Stripes are still small IL
number, but on the Atlantic and in
South American waters their growing
trade is striking.
Japan gain since the war 3 open
ing is also striking. In the East she
has, although NOT Completely, succeed
ed in filling the gap created by Great
Britain 3 withdrawal. On the Pacific
also most Of the trade is carried on un
der the Japanese flag. A most prom
iment instance Of Japan 3 achievement
is the Nippon Yusen Kaisha g inaugur,
alton of a Liverpool service. The regu'
lar trade on this particular route Ia
now almost entirely carried on by the
Nippon Yusen Kaisha, although in the
autumn of this year the Osaka Shosen
Kaisha will start o service on this
route. Japan has also increased heI
fleet immensely, in spite Of the limit
ed capacity of her yards, which is due
to the Precarious supply of steel"
After-war Prospects ,@s1
After the war, in Mr.. Matsumura :
opinion, Great Britain will strive tc
regain her lost trade, and she is en-
Titled to fair success in this struggle
"She has long occupied a position OF
preponderating Importance he con
tinued, "and her seamen are excelled
Il by those of no other nation. Her mas
tiers are not only able captains but
highly efficient business men. Unless
branch offices or agencies undertake the
loading business or arrangements with
( consignces masters of other national
ties are helpless, but British masters
themselves are able to carry out al
business in port and gain footings al
4 every port they touch. Great Britain
will, therefore succeed in gaining heI
lost position. The only question il
II how far she will succeed.
II 1.-THE Germans will also strive t.
regain what they have lost, !" said tn,
speaker, "but it is not sure that they
will succeed. They have been heater
so badly by the war that it win b.
quite hard for them to rebuild theii
fleet The United .States will alst
have to strive hard if she is 10 retair
what has been gained during the war
is the seamen's law and shortage il
efficient seamcn. If this weakness !,
remedied she can retail the fruit OF
the past endeavors. d. .... ....t...E.
III ~ cannot help entertaining pessi
mistie views regarding the after,waJ
struggle Of Japan's merchantmen, fO
the retention of their gain, Mr.. Mat
sumura remarked, 90 for Japan has in
Il . a.
Japan can keep all her ships in full
employ. Japanese seamen, however
Il important factor in the postwar com
petition. They can work at lower
rates than American or British sea
men" I.@ -.
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