Connecticut western news., 1917-11-22
JAPAN FIGHTING HARD IN WAR FOR
 WORLD MARKETS
Has Made Tremendous Strides
 in Manufacturing and Ex- i porting Since 1914.
HER INDUSTRIES THRIVING
Has Captured Markets Held by Other Nations-Trade to Australia Quad
 rupIed-RuiIding 6oo,ooo Tons of Shipping to Handle Export Expansion


 Shipping to Handle Export Expansion
 In the past few years Japan has un- dergone a tremendous industrial devel- opment. The enormous progress made by her in manufacturing and export ing since the outbreak of the war is little realized in this country.
 It is not fully recognized that Japan is gradually changing from an ag~icul- tural to an industrial country, and that in her new drive to win some of the foreign markets she has captured con- siderable of the business which was formerly held by this country. The great expansion of her foreign trade since 1914 is shown by the official re- turns of her trade in 1916.
 Exports Far in Excess of Imports.
 During that year the total value of imports was 756, 6,5O0,000 yen, being an increase of 224,OOOOO0, while the ex- ports for the same period amounted to 1,127 5000 yen, being an increase of about 419 9,OO0,O ,OOO yen. The actual ex- cess of exports over imports for the year was 371, 100000 yen, as compared with 170,OOO,00O yen for 1915.
 The changed position which has taken place since the beginning of the war may be seen from the fact that for the year 1914 there was actually m excess in the value of the imports over exports of about 4,500,000 yen.
 Cotton manufacture is one of her principal industries, and the statistics show that the average number of spin dies working daily in Japan in 1914 s(the latest available year) was nearly R,6OO,U Wool manufacture was not carried on before the war to any great extent, but it has now received con siderable impetus, and Japanese fac tories are executing orders from the Russian Government.
 The production of iron and steeE-t both in government and private works has also been very considerable, the best iron ores being imported from China Japan has some 0,000 tons of shipping now under construction, and the industry is in a fiourishing condition. Her merchant marine con- sists of 2,170 steamers of 1,7O4, 7S5 tons, and 9,187 sailing ships of 572,4O3 tons Ocean-going steamers exceeding 10000 tons number 448, with a total tonnage of 1,428,212 tons. Thirty-nine ecesn-going steamers of 140,236 tons were launched from Japanese yards in 1916.
 May Use American Machinery.
 It might be added that Japan is now Investigating the possibility of using American cotton-spinning machinery in their mills. The extent of purchases already decided on Is estimated at 100000 spindles.
 How her credit stands may be seen from the fact that her AZ per cent. loan Is quoted on the London Stock Exchange at 91k, yielding at that price, interest of nearly per cent. Great Britain's AZ per cent. loan is quoted at 92A, so We see how the rela- tive positions Of the two countries have changed since 1914. Before that fateful time no one would have dreamed of comparing the two credits. Already Japanese manufacturers have uuadrupled their exports to Aus tralfa. Ships which in the past aver aged a cargo of 450 tons now bring to Sydney 2,500 tons. The Japanese have captured great deal of the trade once firmly held by American, British, Ger man and French exporters. In the SILK market they have won the premier position, and Australian shops are now a1lled to overfiowing with cheap Jap anese silks.
 The following Japanese goods are now sold with great success in the Australian market: Glasses, scientific Instruments, silks, Panama hats, cot tons, toys, insulators, electric light ap- paratus. camphor, sulphur oil, matches, basketware, rubber tires, bottles, DOT celain. -
 Japan's rapid industrial and com- mercia1 strides will serve to intensity the formidable competition which the American manufacturer will have to meet both in domestic and foreign markets after the war. They afford another striking proof of the necessity for restoring friendly relations be- tween capital and labor, securing few er,aand better business laws and moulding better public attitude to- ward business so that American in- Austry may be rid of its harassments and made strong for the trade fight after the restoration of peace.-Tssdus- srs0l Consesvatton, Neto York.
 5 Feelinu the Public Pulse.
 A hno rd of tra6n op ch a rnhpr nf roHn-