The sun., 1919-04-06
FRANCE WORKING TO
WIN Big SEA TRADE
Will Extend Ports, Build
Large Merchant Marine
and Improve Canals.
TO NAB GERMAN MARKETS
Work Done by Americans
Proves Important Nucleus
for Programme Outlined.


Paris, April 5.-whatever the amount
OF the indemnities which France will
receive from Germany. French fnan-
cial and commercial leaders have be-
gun to recognise that other sources
will have to be drawn upon to restore
tho vitality of the nation. The French
Government, accordingly, has launched
gigantic scheme for the development
Of the French ports and preparations
are under way for the Improvement Of
waterways and the construction OF a
large merchant marine,
The French Ministry OF Public Works
makes announcement Of Its aims for the
factories, canals and railways and the
increase Of facilities at French ports for
seagoing vessels. With the extensive
modern improvements created by tho
American Army in nearly every large
seaport as a nucleus, the French Gov
eminent will continue to carry out q
programme of better and larger harbors
with a view OF capturing ultimately the
large overseas trade which was Ger
many's before tho war.
Besides an enormous increase In her
normal foreign trade. France expects ex-
tensive development Of the trade with
to receive the greater portion of the
frozen meats. coal, timber. minerals, to-
bacco. coffee and other products which
heretofore she has imported from South
and North America
Plans also are in hand for the de-
velopment Of Algiers, the Importance OF
which. II Is expected. will be tripled.
At Marseilles, to-day the chief reception
harbor for Frances colonial trade, one
of the finest ports in the world Is being
developed by the deepening Of Port de
Bouc and the use OF Lake Csronte. six
miles Of quays will be added to those
already under construction. making
nearly sixteen miles of wharf. against
seven before the war. Vessels drawing
about thirty feet will be able to enter
Berre Lake, thus extending the size
Of the hinterland OF Marseilles-
Brest has been wonderfully trans
formed by American engineers and now
Is one Of the great transatlantic ports.
Plans are on foot also for tho pro-
lection OF Paris from Its recurring
floods by improvements in the Marine
Canal, and there Is q further proposal to
make 1t possible for seagoIng freighters
to come direct to Paris from England.
The Rhone-Rhine Canal is to be
widened and deepened to accommodate
boats Of 500 tons and eventually of 500
tons This work will be completed, 1t
is predicted by the end of the year.
Navigable waterways are to be con-
structed also connecting the valley of
the Saar and the towns OF Strasbours.
Mulhouse and Basic with Mediterra-
mean ports. The Importance Of this can
be seen readily. with France in posses
sion of the coal OF the Saar valley and
the iron mines of Briey not far away.
No time Is TO be lost in beginning this
| work: all tho preparations virtually
have been made and parliamentary sup
port has been assured, every thinking
lie 81 slator realizing that II France is TO
recover from the tremendous shock she
has suffered she must become one Of the
| leading competitors for the worlds mar
| kets and In the German sense flood the
world" with her products.