New-York tribune., 1919-06-30
Vessels Are Registered I'm.
der Flags of Neutrals, Ac-
cording to Henry C. Wilt
bank in the July 'Rudder'
Still Power on the Sea
And in Five Years She. Will
Be Only Slightly Behind
United States and ENGLAND

Germany, instead of being elimi-
mated as factor in world shipping
still controls upward of 100000 tons
of merchant ships registered under
the flags of neutral nations, accord
ing to an article by Henry C. Wilt
bank in the July issue of "The
Rudder."
With this secret aotilla as a basis
the article says, Germany. within FIVE
years, in all probability, will have re-
established herself as maritime
power, with a merchant fleet eurpassed
only by those of the United States
and Great Britain.
"1t is becoming more evident every
day." writes Mr.. Wiltbank, "that the
scope of the worlds commercial anger
against Germany sis limited to the
Allies. Switzerland, Norway, Sweden
Denmark and Holland declined to meet
the wishes of the Allies by agree
ing to participate in a blockade against
sign the peace treaty
They have nothing to gain by the
seizure of Germany's shipping and
much to lose by the breaking off of
commercial relations. German capital
Is invested in their industries, and
they nave taken over no German prop
erty or interests during the war. It
is to them that Germany looks con-
fidently to furnish the foundations for
the resumption Of her world trade.
Secret German Trade Fleet
Some idea Of how Germany has
operated to secure control of indus
tries IN other countries has been given
by the revelations following the seiz-
ures of enemy holdings in the United
States. In Europe the German methods
or commercial penetration have been
the same and there is every reason to
believe that the shipping and ship
building enterprises of many neutral
countries are honeycombed with Ger
man capital, ofiicered by German sub
Jects or their dummy representatives
and directed in the interests of Ger
man commerce. It is this organized eff
tort that has brought into being Sc
cret German trade fleet, operated un-
der foreign flags, and has thereby in
Jected INTO the shipping situation a
factor against which the Allies NAV
lind 1T hard to contend.
THAT Germany during the war
worked with an eye to her after-war
trade is shown by the way in which she
sought to extend her sphere of ship
ping influence by negotiating for the
control of shipyards in neutral coun-
tries. Some instances of this were
cited recently by the British publica-
tlon The Syren and Shipping,' which
stated:
Negotiations have been taking
place for the acquisition of a Dutch
yard by the Hamburg owner Wilhelm
liemsoth We have already reported
the movement to found new ward at
Roneby. in Sweden, backed by German
money and under German technical d.
rectlon. In the Baltic provinces of
Nussla and. in Finland similar efforts
are being made.
Advantages of Situation
with German interests in control of
nrofessedly neutral enterprises German
trade would be greatly strengthened.
Not only could tonnage be secured after
the war. but by building and register
ing ships in neutral countries Ger
many could obtain access to enemv
countries.
An even greater advantage would be
that with German interests in control
OF neutral shipping companies the
routes OF the vessels could be altered
so as to take in German ports and reg
uIai services cOuld be instituted limited
to the carrying of German cargo on
outward voyages. Furthermore. the
transfer of the ships to the German
tag or their sale to open German in
terests could be effected whenever the
time was decided to be opportune.
"Another weapon which Germany has
sought to employ in her campaign Of
preparation for after-war shipping con-
dltlons is the nominal transfer to neu
tral interests of ships built during the
period Of hostiities. While it was an
nounced in the shipping terms recentlv
laid down to Germany that such sales
would not be recognized, no intimation
has been given of the attitude of the
neutral countries concerned in regard
to the matter.
Should Calculate Accordingly
hat steps Will be taken to prevent
the maritime renaissance of Germany?
Seamen OF Allied countries have de.
clared boycott against all Teuton yes
sells, but 1t remains to be seen how far
THIS Will be carried into effect and how
effective it will be. The peace terms.
drastic as they are, mortgage the fut
ure OF the Teuton mercantile marine.