New-York tribune., 1917-12-02
England to Enter
Race for Steel
Trade After War
Countrys Expanded Output
VIII Yield Surplus When
Peace Comes

Financial and industrial England is
giving thoughtful attention at the pres
ont time TO the consideration Of what
is TO be done after the war with the
country's greatly increased iron and
steel production. Output Of these basic
products has been enormously expand
cd since 1914, and it is realized that
unless some outlet is found for
large portion Of the surplus when war
demands cease there is grave danger Of
the whole trade being thrown into a
state of chaos.
1t Is the opinion OF "The London
Ironmonger" that the conversion of
blast furnaces to the production Of
basic iron is a predominant factor, and
that if the production of this class or
iron is perseyered with the best use
made Of the ore which is obtanable in
England, there will be fair chance OF
the English taking over a considerable
proportion OF the trade in the cheaper
grades of steel. which was formerly in
the hands of Germany and Belgium.
Belgium Out of Race
Belgium" this authority says, "is
rot likely 10 export for long time
after the war. and the demand for
steel from all quarters of the world
will be so great that Germany, If she
is again allowed to trade with her
present enemies. and II her production
should remain in excess OF her own
l. 70, n
back at once into a large portion Of her
| former export trade. That probability
must be taken into account, for it Is
very doubtful if effective measures
/ could be taken to prevent Germany
from ewporting commodities il people
abroad are willing TO buy them and
! Shipping space is available. Much. If
not all. OF her former export trade
with this country. however. will per-
/ hans be lost 20 her and our home pro-
| ducers should then not only be able
10 satisfy most of the needs OF the
United Kingdom. but should have a
| good balance for export. and that
branch will have TO be very strongly
| pushed.
| American Competition Certain
"Tbe American producers will have
I 10 be reckoned with. particularly IN the
/ South American. Indian and Australian
{ markets, where they have already seized
during the war a good deal of the busl,
ness that formerly came to Europe, and
on the question OF quality Of the goods
we have little or no advantage over
/ America.
"The development OF our rolling and
other manufacturing plants during the
war should give this country SOUND
foundation from which TO work up the
trade in plates, sheets and structural
steel of all kinds. The cutting away oil
Continental supplies has been bless
/ ing in that il has forced our manu-
| faeturers to develop their plants IN
manner they could never have hoped TO
attain in times Of normal foreign com
petition. The United States is better
placed now than before the war; Ter
many remains for the present douDt,
full quantity. but British iron and steeI
plants. as a whole. are better now than
they ever were, and il is for our manu-
facturers TO see that the best use is
made Of them"
EngIand's Output TO Increase
According TO "The Ironmonger,' the
/ steel production capacity Of England
will be augmented By further 20 per
cent during the coming six TO twelve
months. It points out, however, that
| II is one thing TO get the country's pro-
duction up to record figures during the
present war stress and another TO main
tain production under peace conditions
II suggests that there may have to be
! some measure of Capitalization OF Eng
lands iron and steel resources, to con-
tinue in force long after the end oil
tho War