The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1919-08-22
Conquest
of Trade
Is Begun
First Unit OF Freight and
Passenger 'Dreadnaughts'
Arrives on Coast
b. S. PROCRASTINATES
BY DUDLEY BURROWS
N. T.. A. Staff Corresponding

SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. Zzs-
Scarcely noticed during tho wei
come Of our Pacific fleet on the
west coast, a brand new 10000
ton chip. flying the japanese flag.
steamed into San Francisco bay
few days ago. The usual ccrcsno-
Dies attending the arrival Of . ves-
sci completing her maiden trip
across the Pacific were conspic-
nous by their absence.
Possibly there might have been
more interest In the coming Of the
'Choyo Maru" had the American
public been advised that she was
unit Of a mighty fleet Of mer-
chant ships which Japan Is now
building In the hope Of becoming
undisputed mistress Of the western
ocean.
This squat. heavy. laden sea pig
represented the keenest rival Amer
lea will ever have for the foreign
trade OF the Orient. Siberia and the
Antipodes. And that rival In ION
the job" months ahead OF Uncle
Sam.
The race fos the privilege Of trans
porting this vast export and import
business OF the Pacific has actually
begun and Japan has stolen a march
on America which may cost many
years Of effort and millions Of dol
lars TO offset, IL at all possible.
Word comes from Tokyo that :
great armada OF freight and pas
sengcr vessels OF the ulfra-modern
type is now receiving the ''finishing
touches" in Japanese shipyards for
a great commercial drive extend
ing 10 every nook and corner Of the
Pacific.
Heading this peaceful navy" viii
be at least two trans oceanic grey
hounds OF the Mauritania class to
ply between Seattle and Yokohama,
negotiating the Great Circle" route
In nine days. "a against Is now
made by the fastest vessels In that
service.
These big turbine-driven liners, ft
Is reported. will represent the last
word in luxury for passengers, at.
the same time reserving enough
cargo space to insure sfeadiness and
profits without sacrificing speed.
Second Big Fleet.
Next I'm size TO these mercantilo
"dreadnaughts" will be 10 vessels
displacing $4,000 tons. each. four Of
which viii travel between the Orient
and San Francisco, via Honolulu,
while six will strike for South Amer
lean ports. laden with goods labeled
Made in Japan"
A veritable swarm of 10 900 tim.
ners" is reported to be mobilizinR in
Japanese ports for service in India.
China, the Straits Settlements. the
philippines and the Antipodes
IL is rumored that Japan did NOT
quite tote fair" in the matter az
constructing this formidable peace
navy" OF hers-that she permitted
just enough work to be done on the
ships TO insure quick completion
when hostilities in Europe should
cease. but kept them mot quite
available" for war purposes
Be that as IT may, Japan has the
fleet and the goods with which to
fill II. Moreover, the Yankees Of
the Far East" have learned MANY
tricks of the trade from German.
Dutch and English merchants and
manufacturers and are prepared to
entrench themselves solidly in thu
Pacific markets IL given the chance.
American Promises.
Largely thru the efforts OF .Yohn
III. Rosseter Of San Francisco. direc-
tor OF operations for the United
States shipping board. an "ade-
auate" fleet OF American merchant.
men has been promised" the Pa
ciifc coast. So far only an incon-
seauential number. compared with
the japanese armada, have been
definitely allocated to the western
ocean.
As a student OF the situation re-
Gently declared: What remains now
iss to plunge into the DEVELOPMENT or
trade routes that will keep the pros
pective merchant fleet busy. Already
Japanese competition is felt whcr~
ever cargo carrier can find An.
chorage. The men at the head or
the shipping industry must nut
every resource into the fight, for
the japanese have a long start"
Meanwhile America will do wen
TO have an eye on other maritime
nations. principally England and
Holland. which are also Initiating
ambitious invasions of the Pacific In
the conquest of the vast trade to be