The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1918-01-03
JAPAN FIGHTING
HARD IN WAR FOR
WORLD MARKETS
Has Made Tremendous Strides
In Manufacturing and EI-
porting Since 1914
Her INDUSTRIES THRIVING
Has Captured Markets Held by Other
NatI0nS-Trade to Australia Quad.
rupIsd-BuIIding 100000 Tons Of
chipping to Handle Export Expansion
Her INDUSTRIES THRIVING

In the past few years japan has un-
dergons Q 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
q gradually changing from an agTicul-
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 1915.
Exports Far In Excess Of Imports.
During that year the total value OF
imports was 756 500, 900 yen, being an
increase Of 24,OOO, 900, while the ex'
ports for the same period amounted to
1,l27S00, 900 yen, being an increase OF
about 419 ZOO, 900 yen. The actual ex'
cess Of exports over imports for the
year was 81, 100000 yen, as compared
with 170,000,00o yen for 1915.
The changed position which has
taken place since the beginning OF the
war may be seen 6rom the fact that
Tor the year 1914 there was actually
an excess in the value OF the imports
over exports of about 4,500,OOO yen.
Cotton manufacture is one OF her
pYincipal Industries, and the statistics
show that the average number OF spin
dies working daily in Japan in 1914
1.-THE latest available year,. was nearly
2,50O,OOO. Wool manufacture was not
carried on before the war to any great
extent, but 1t has now received a con-
siderable impetus, and Japanese fac'
tories are executing orders from the
Russian Government.
The production Of iron and steel
boz u government and private works
= u also been very considerable, the
best t-on ores being imported from
China. Japan has some 100000 tons
OF shipping now under construction
and the industry is in fourishine
condition. Her merchant marine con
sists Of 2,17O steamers Of 1,7e4, 7Ss
tons, and 9,1S7 sailing ships OF 672,4V'
tons, Ocean-go1ng steamers exceeding
I 5000 tons number 448, with q tota1
tonnage Of 1,42s,212 tons. Thirty y-nine
ocean.Roing steamers Of 140,2S6 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 cottonspinning machinery
in their mills. The extent Of purchases
already decided on is estimated al
100000 spindles.
How her credit stands may be seen
from the fact that her AZ per cent
loan is quoted on the London StocE
Exchange at 911s, yielding at tha'
price, interest of nearly per cent
Great Britain's AZ par cent loan II
quoted at 92K, so We see how the rela
tive positions of the two countries
have changed since 1914. Before tha
fateful time no one would haV'
dreamed of comparing the two credits
Already Japanese manufacturer
have Quadrupled their exports to Aus
traha.k \ Ships which IN the past aver
aged a cargo Of $50 tons now bring t
sydney $500 tons. The Japanese haV'
captured a great deal of the trade once
firmly held by American, British, Ger
man and French exporters. In the Sill
market they nave won the premie
position, and Australian shops are nov
filled to overhowing with cheap Jap
anese silks.
The following Japanese goods arr
now sold with great success IN thu
Australian market: Glasses, scientific
instruments, silks, Panama hats, cot
tons, toys, insulators, electric light ap
paratus, camphor, sulphur oil, matches
basketware, rubber tires, bottles, por
celain.
Japan's rapid Industrial and com
.mercia strides will serve to intensity
the formidable competition which the
American manufacturer will have t
meet both in domestic and foreign
markets after the war. They AFFORD
another striking proof Of the necessit!
for restoring friendly relations be
tween capital and labor, securing few
,er and better business laws anC
moulding better public attitude to
ward business 80 that American in
dustry may be rid Of It's harassmentI
and made strong for the trade flgh
after the restoration Of peace.-Indus
trial Conservation, Neto York.