The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1918-11-30
nese-" ships Japan is building
ships, and more ships.

ships, and more ships.
In 1853 and 1854, Japan did not pos
cess a single seagoing ship. She had
scrapped great mercantile marine
and outlawed huge Asiatic trade in
the early part Of the seventeenth cen
fury when she sealed up her shores
against contact with western trouble
makers. For some time after the Per-
ry and Townsend Harris treaties, Ja-
pan had her hands full of domestic.
problems. She had no time, spare la
Dor, nor money to devote to the build
ing or purchase of ships She was con-
tent to get along as best she could, and
in the wars of 1894 and 1904. she real
lied her handicap as an insular nation
with not enough ships.
Archibald Hurd and others paid
tribute to the speed with which she
set about correcting the deficiency.
The Risen Sun became a great factor,
rot merely In the Pacific trade, but In
around the-world trade. T. Funada,
an expert on ships, commenting upon
the development Of great new dock
wards north and south of Sasaka and
Kobe and the establishment of the
powerful Asano Shipbuilding COM
pany on the Pacific side of Nippon,
says, "these mark new stage in the
progress of shipbuilding in Japan,
pointing to the day when Japan will
Ee the second shipbuilding country in
the world"
Last year more than 450 ships were
launched, representing a tonnage of
10000. In 1914 the total tonnage was
but 10000 in 1916, 100000. 1t is
certain that the 1918 figures will show
4 phenomenal rise. Already 121 docks
are working night and day, each dock
with slips, ETC., for vessels Of over
1000 TONS The latest estimate of
launching capacity placed the total
above 100000; but 1t is an open Sc
c-et that the actual output will be far
above this, owing to the recent recip-
rocal arrangements made with our
government. The $4,000 tons Of ship
Ping that Japan is supplying to us for
war needs includes the following
steamers: The Ceylon Maru (6,44O
tons), Tottori Maru (9,660 tons), Kir-
in Maru $500 tons), Tosa Maru a.
eco tons), Penang Maru $500 tons),
Jinsen Maru (5,500 tons), Rangoon
Maru (8100 tons), and two other slips
Of the Nippon Yusen Kaisha fleet;
the Indo Maru (7,900 tons), the Java
Maru (7900 tons), the Malay Maru
| (7,100 tons) from the Osaka Shosen
Kaisha flag; the Seiyo Maru (10,300
tons), and the Persia Maru (4,750
tons), from the Togo Kisen Kaisha;
The Miyoji Maru (4,300 tons); and the
KEENAN, Maru (6,170 tons), from the
Mitsui Bussan Kaisha; the Komakata
Msru (4,320 tons), and Odaru Maru
| 5000 tons), from the Yamashlta
Steamship company; and four other
ships under 5000 tons.
About 10000 tons of shipping now
OF the stocks will be delivered by Jap
aLese shipbuilders before the end Of
December on basis OF one ton Sspf
shipping for one ton of American
steel; and, in addition to this, the Jap
anese are constructing for us 234,00O
tons of shipping for delivery in the
United States during next year on
basis of one ton of steel for two tons
of constructed shipping. Sixty-slx
ships supplied by Japan will help to
make the world safe for democracy.
Commercial Aims of Japan.
The war thoughts of Japan are not
confined to the present. They have
shreWd eye upon future possibilities
| after the war Is over. The total gold
holdings of Japan stood at 1,050,00O,-
600 yen ($527, 50O,O00) at the end OF
| February according to the statement
of the imperial finance department.
| The last meeting of the Yokohama
Specie bank March 81 reported net
profts Of 100000 yen ($25, 0o0,o00)
TOR the previous half year. Japan's
foreign trade IS booming.
"The commerce and industry Of
| Japan have witnessed remarkable
progress in recent years. says DR.. Min
oru Okla, chief of the imperial bureau
of commerce and industry; foreign
trade has especially experienced UNI
rrecedented expansion. The most i'm
J rortant question for Japan now is how