New-York tribune., 1920-08-27
u. S. Shipping
Losing Chance
InCOal Crisis
Merchant Marine Unable to
:. Win Export Trade by
Transporting Supplies to
Bare Markets Abroad
Halted by Car Shortage
Britain's Inability to Make
Shipments of Fuel Opens
Up Opportunity to Fleet


Loss of opportunities offered fol
the upbuilding of the merchant marine
through the present situation in rela
ton to coal is Gazing concern to Amer
lean shipping men. Practically the
entire export coal trade Of the worlo
is Americas for the taking, provided
sufficient supplies can be secured fe
shipment abroad. Under the present
conditions, however, no advantage car
be taken of the opportunity. AS ship
ping men see it. the situation is abou,
as follows:
Ability to meet the fuel needs OF
other countries would not only in
crease Americas foreign commerce
but would furnish American ships with
greater carrying trade and the chance
to make permanent connections abroad
that would provide steady sources Of
cargo for a large portion of the new
merchant marine
Great Britain, for years in posses
sion of the bulk of the marine trans
portation of coal, no longer has suf
ficient fuel to fill her home needs
Labor conditions have been growing
stead,4y worse, and if the threatened
genera! strike OF miners takes place
The whole industrial fabric of the Brit
iSh nation will be menaced.
Coal Develops Shipping
How great part coal has played in
the development of the British mer-
chant marine is indicated by the fact
that over 90 Pr ceAt of the total vol
ur'e g british export trade has been
composed OF fuel cargoes. In 1918 the
ccai shlpr d from Great Brit.in agpre.
gateA nearly 77,000,000 tons, this fig
Nre representing 81 per cent of the
exports If all kinds Last year the
tota was only 80, 5000 tons, or about
half the pre-war aggregate. This
smaller amoInt. however, represented
g pei cent or the years bulk exports.
mis- year, it is estimated the exports
of coal viii rot be much more than 2O.
100000 IONS
AS it was the British sh;powners
Who first made use Of steamships fol
long ocean voyages, Great Britain was
&ole TO develop d large trad, in coal
before o,hec countries were able to
compete with steamships for the
world 5 carry irs trade The British
were also able to secure control of
most OF the worlds coaling stations.
Ihus they were in a position to Sc
cure exports that meant a constant
source OF cargo for their vessels on
lae outward voyage and that enabled
them TO provide economically the great
volume OF tonnage needed for the i'm
ports into Great Britain
Even when carried at a compara-
lively low rae Of freight, the out
ward cargo Of coal was an important
factor IN reducing homeward freights
and making 1t possible to meet the
competition Of foreign shipping. Re
ductlon of coal exports on tie present
scale Is therefore regarded in Eng
land as grave check to the prosperity
OF the British merchant marine. es-
pecia!ly now that Britain has for
Tlidable competitor in American ship
ping
British Situation Grave
According to the American Cham
ber OF Commerce in London, so many
British ships have been laid up by the
government restrictions on coal ex-
ports that strong pressure has been
brought to bear upon the Coal Con-
increase grea- v the quantity of coal
permitted to be shipped The reply
has been made, however, that home
manufacturers must be served first,
and that these have not even yet re-
celved adequate supplies of fuel. 1t is
also pointed out that the recent British
production is at the rate of 47,000, 900
tons less than in 1918, although 10000
more men are employed in the indus
try no'g than then.
British interests are said to be
greatly concerned over the fact that
American coal can be bought and
shipped TO Europe at a cost, including
transportation, lower than British coal.
The reported placing of an order here
for 35,000000 tons by the British Col
J cry Investment Trust is regarded as
an English step 10 hold French and
ltalion markets, whore the coal is to
be delivered, and to prevent the direct
sale to those countries by Americans.
This country's inability to take ad-
vantage of tie present openings is not
due to lack of American ships. Scores
Of these are tied up at American ports
awaiting coal, which cannot be secured,
largely because of shortage of cars and
congestion.
U. s. Coal Exports Gain
In the period Immediately after the
armlstice many foreign markets held
undisputed by Great Britain for years
turned to this country for fuel AS a
result American exports of coal for the
fscal year recently ended reached rec
ord figures and the 1920 exports of fuel
from this country should be we'll above
those of Great Britain. The gravity of
the coal shortage, however, is indi-
Gated by the gap between the total
shipments from the two countries dur
Ing the pre-war year and the past one.
Ihese exports were as follows, in tons:
., 1918 1919.
British. 76'7oo,ooo 5s.5oo.ooo 5.sooooo
Iotai. .-........- 81, 100000 $1,000. 900
The American gain of 100000 tons
represents only about fifth of the
british loss from the pre-war total,
with a demand for coal we'll in excess
OF the 1913 consumption, there is an
inrN,