New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-04-24
Hamburg Ship
Plan Hits Snag
In i. S. Board
Advocates of Scheme to
Put American Craft on
German Line Get Chilly
Reception From Benson
British Aid To Be Sought
Government Has No Objec-
ton if Private Concerns
Want to Back Enterprise
Bv Theodore M. knappen

Special Dispatch to Ihe IribxnO
WASHINGTON, April $50 far as
any active cooperation and indorse-
ment by the United States Shipping
Board is concerned. the plan to use
American ships to resuscitate the ship
ming routes of the Hamburg American
Company is at an end. 1t was learned
positively to-day that neither the rep
reservations of the American Ship and
Commerce Company, nor the presence
in Washington of the president and
several of the directors and officials
of the Hamburg Anne rican Line have
made any impression on the lack of
responsiveness that the Shipping
Board has developed in regard to
project toward which it once was IA
vorably inclined. Admiral Benson had
become so "skittish" in regard to the
scheme that he confined the call of the
Hamburg officials on him yesterday en-
tirely to one of courtesy.
However, the admiral has made it
plain that while the Shipping Board
will in no way act as sponsor for the
scheme, it will not interfere with the
operations of American shipping COM
panies that may undertake to carry
it out, even though they should use
allocated or purchased Emergency
Fleet Corporation ships on the Ham
burg-Amercan routes. The board will
content itself with scrutinizing the
operations and records of such COM
panies to assure itself that they are
100 per cent American.
Has Docks, but Few Ships
The Hamburg American officials are
not inclined to be takative but it was
learned indirectly that they are init
mating that under the circumstances
they will probably deal with British in
stead OF American shipping interests
for the operation of their old trade
routes, pending the rehabilitation of
their fleet.
The American Ship and Commerce
Company of New York, of which Cen
eral George W. Goethals is president,
and Archie Roosevelt, vice-pres ident,
between the German interests and the
Shipping Board, and the Kerr Steam
ship Company is supposed to be one of
Its subs diaries. Its original suggestion
to the Shipping Board that every facil-
lty at the command of the board be
utilized in placing American ships on
the Hamburg-American routes was most
favorably received, and as a result the
Hamburg American officials made the
present visit TO America expecting to
consummate the deal with little delay.
IN the meantime, however, John Barton
fayne had retired from the chairman
ship of the board, Admiral Benson had
succeeded him and there had been a
great outburst of public disapproval of
the resuscltation scheme, with the re-
suit that the Germans came to Wash
lngton only t" get chilly reception.
British Backing To Be Sought
The war lett the Hamburg Anne rican
company with docks. marine terminals
wharves, harbor craft, offices, agencies
and business connections all over the
world, but few'ships. The company in
tends to replace its fleet as rapidly as
possible, but in order to keep its har-
Dor facilities and agencies in use and
active the world around pending the
restoration of the feet, it hit on the
idea Of getting other ships to operate
Its old routes and use it's facilities
As the United States Shipping Board
y the greatest ship owner in the world,
the company naturally thought of it
first, the more especially as it would
2 prefer to promote American rather
than British commerce.
Inc arrangement was to last for
twenty years and the Hamburg-Ameri-
can was to bind itself not to place
more German ships on the routes than
mere were American ships during the
lie Of the agreement. The advocates
argued that it would be the most ad-
outrageous method Of building up
american shipping connections
throughout the world-and it is
acknowledged that the lack of mari
TIME bases is one OF the most serious
nandicaps Of the new American mer-
chant marine 1t was argued that even
tnough the connection would terminate
az the end OF te~enty years, the Ameri-
can lines would be 50 firmly intrenched
mat they would not be incomm oded by
oelng deprived of the Hamburg -Ameri-
can connection.
Advantage to Germany Seen
On the other hand, it was contended
nat to commit large number of Amer
ican SHIPS 70 such an arrangement
YOU'D De merely to use American prop
.isy 70 restore German sea power, and
s,aI II would result in the ships being
useo 20 the advantage of Germany
fsner than Of the United States.
-" what extent the plan can be real
yea without the sympathetic coopera-
,'on o. the Shipping Board remains to
~ SEEN but it is doubtful if enough
Fps can DE obtained 70 satisfy the
oesmans. The Hamburg Anne rican Com
psny had about 200 ships on sixty
r.u.es before the war. There were ten
,wpuIss 10 Nortn America, twelve to the
"ss. INDIES, Mexico and Central Amer
~, r. Tour 70 South America, twelve to
"a. .ae vest coast Of America and across
.ae racine, nine TO Africa. three to
europe and eleven tourist routes. 1t
sso mad about 800 tugs, lighters, river
s s.' etc. that were used in har-
'',s ana local marine feeding" lines
~ - minated at the Shipping Board
s ~ that, pending the announcement
:. n, he~ plan for selling the E.mergen-
iieet ships, all sales viii be held up.
v. VIZ new plan, the strong point Of
.n.ch IA to be the ea1y financing Of .he
ss.cnase Of the ships. is being worked
,as ~ committee Of business men
financial experts Of the Treasury.
britain Ask al ~ Dn