New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-08-13
Germany Plans for
Restoration of Her
Merchant Marine
May Make Large Grants to Ship
builder. to Offset the
Attrition in War

Recognition on the part of Germany's
commercial and financial interests OF
the need Of the restoration Of her badly
shattered merchant marine is contained
in a bill presented to the Reichstag,
details of which have just reached the
United States, via London.
Last year scheme was formulated
whereby it was proposed that the gov
eminent make loans to aid new ship
construction; the total amount in con-
temptation being s45,oO0,OOO. Ship
ping interests in the empire protested
that such loans would not enable them
to take the risk of building new ships
! at war prices. When the United States
entered the war the whole scheme was
altered and the latest bill Is the result
TIL idea of loans has been abandoned
the question of compensation is post
poned, and the German government
proposes to make direct grants to ship
owners. which will enable them to re-
place the ships that they have lost OF
to repair damage that has been done
These direct subsidies will never be re-
paid.
Speed Favored
1t is proposed to graduate the sub
sides according to the speed OF con-
struction. They may amount to from
so to so per cent of the peace value Al
the Ship is put in commission within
three years after. the conclusion OF
peace, to from 40 to so pei. cent II the
ship Is put in commission between w
fourth and the sixth years after tne
conclusion of peace, and to from w u
40 per cent if the ship is put IN CON.
mission between the seventh and thI
ninth years after the conclusion o.
neace. Subsidies will also be granted
to meet the costs of internment o.
German ships abroad, and grants WI
be made to ships crews who nave ios'
their personal possessions.
Financial Help Essential
An explanatory statement appended
t. the bill says that one OF the mos
important needs of the German peopi'
ia TO be able to resume its world trad'
and world communications immedlatei!
after the war. The mercantile marine
cannot meet the requirements OF me
country without financial help from th'
empire. The mercantile marine con
sisted before the war of a gross regis.
tered tonnage of more than 5,OOO,Oo'
IONS. More than 100000 tons have
fallen, or are likely to fall, into enemy
hands, and more than 100000 tons are
/ locked up in the ports OF Germany
allies or of neutral states. Owing. U
the rise in all prices, new constructor
undertaken at the risk Of owners wouic
be unlikely to pay. 1t is added:
/ "By far the greatest part OF German
shipping has been completely paralyzec
for the period Of the war. and th'
/ revenue from oversee trade has driet
up. On the other hand, the keepin;
! in commission Of our ships abroad anc
! the maintenance of their crews require
very large expenditure. These cure Al
expenses, the disappearance of reve
nues from overseas trade, and the cost!
/ involved in maintaining their organiza
| ton have caused very great nnancia
! weakening of the German shipping con
Germs. Shipowners in neutral, and I;
| some extent even III
are everywhere making during the wa
/ the utmost efforts to increase then
tonnage and to invade what have hith
I erto been German spheres of business
| In these efforts foreign shipping is in 6
particularly favorable situation, for thu
! reason that during the course Of thu
war thus far it has made brilliant
profits, and is consequently in posses
| sion Of very large resources. More
over, il is powerfully supported by IT.
respective governments in these efforts
| The United States of America anC
! Japan, in particular, have enormously
/ increased and expanded both theiI
/ fleets and their business"
Calls for 1915, 00o, 900
No official attempt has been made
to estimate the probable expenditure
! involved by the bill for the restoration
/ Of tho German mercantile marine. A
Hamburg dispatch to the "Vossisch'
I Zeltung" says that the probable amount
! OF the subsidies is estimated at Ham
burg at 800, 900 marks-or, at thu
1 rate Of exchange before the war, abou
1915, 000,0 900. II Is said that the Ham
burg ship owners only criticise The
provision that a ship may not be sol,
, TO an alien during period OF ter
years after II is put in commission; u
is argued that German owners should
be able TO take any opportunity TO sci
old ships in a favorable market without