New-York tribune., 1921-01-27
Germans Are
Working Hard
To Aid Marine
g.H.M. Robinson. Hartman
Lines Official, Declares
Years Will BE- Needed to
= Regain Pre-War Position
Government Lending Aid
Teuton Yards Are Repairing
British Ship; Turning Out
Tonnage for Foreigners


.sstoration of her merchant marine,
int it will be years before she is in
position approaching her pre-war
strength, says R. H. NJ Robinson, vice
,rssident Of the American Ship and
commerce Corporation, who has just
returned from q trip to Europe, in the
course of which he had an opportunity
u study conditions in Germany.
Mr.. Robinson's trip abroad was made
vith ether representatives OF the Har-
iman interests. including Henry Dear
sorn, vice-president of the United
american Lines, and c. A. Ward, q
laval architect with the Mercha1.
shipbuilding Company. Colo~el W. P.
Ryan, the Continental representative
If the United American Lines, Joined
.ae party. About two and half m onths
we're spent abroad.
an comparison with the harbor of
hamburg as I saw it before the war"
ays Mr.. Robinson, shipping activity
.here is on a considerably reduced
scale; but those who are familiar with
as conditions at the German port a
rear ago tell me that the volume of
shipping in service is now very much
greater.
Built for Foreign Account
While there seems to be consider
1oie activity IN shipbuild;ng in the
German shlpyards, the work is not all
le- German account, some Of the ships
Under construction being for foreign
saip owners. The shipyard shops are
sso active IN repairing rolling stock.
and every effort seems to be being
aaae 10 restore the railway services.
~Mhlie the German government is
9aying indemnities to German ship
owners for tonnage seized during the
Tar or turned over to the Allies s,,h-
sequently, 1t is specified that the in
aemnlties are to be used for the hu:ld-
ins Of ships to replace those lost #
understood also that steps are Aeino
AAeh 10 distribute this new work 50
70 give employment to as many
salpoulidlng concerns as possible. and
"seepy s1 10 aid the industry generally
90 far as | learned, there is con.
laeraoIe motorship construction unde,
tas' oae otner types of vessels are no.
semg neglected. Wherever possibl.
ne Germans seem to be using nateria
% hand, and I was told of one cas,
shere Diesel engine constructed fo,
Use IN U-boat was being geared dowr
% that 1t could be utilized in a cargo
Repairing British Ship
here they are able to secure thei1
raw materials in Germany the Cer.
ian Ians can produce at very low costs
Willie | was in that country a RritisI
Snip was sent over for repairs in =,
1srman yard, where the cost of re-.
pairs ; was much smaller than in the
United Kingdom. - '"'
IN general, the Germans are no,
Guiding large ships, but are confn
ag themselves more to the con.
aueiloh OF comparatively small cargo
'ssseis and combination cargo anc
'seerage ships, although in some case,
Iesseis Of as much as 1880 tons dead
weight are being built.
In regard to building for Allief
4ecount under the terms of the neact
;rea.'' 1t is understood that the PRO
auction OF certain shipyards has beer
al-marked up to the amount reouirec
:! the Allied commission and that the
.hsr yards are free to work for Ger
nan or foreign account.
Giant Liner Unfinished
THE liner Bismarck. the LARGEST !,
s worlo, Is still lying unfinished al
.s:.aaAousg' wnere she was launched fol
,.e account Of the HAMBURG rnericar
Line by Blohm & Voss about weel
sssore the beginning of the war r
stated in Hamburg that she is be
.as he.d pending instructions from tn
.aseI-Aii!ed Commission as to her dis
VISA; When / saw her she was ap.
I.Oacning completion, her machiner,
snhg been installed, but nothing hae
.sn zone toward fitting her for pas
.ager service. About two or thre,
1t the time. ''''
onempIoynent has been reported a..
-a'e a. Hamburg, but this condition
aas not nearly so apparent to me
asie as in some English cities I Wis
80 nitn the exception of the Ger
-sa ssiiors and officers, who cannot pc
,s, gIA because of the lack of German
gs' ,nere seemed to be little idleness
..,: GOES not seem to be GERMANY
rtb,sy % puy ships abroad in order t.
4 -.nS'aen her merchant marine. II
ssa .say cases. however, German line.
Ia ~ 70 De .chartering foreign ships
10y ocandinavian, and using then
a.. ..eopen their old trade routes. A:
rs.s. 49, a. the German shipyards turn ou
.s,.s;s. s. however, these lines are ar
:dag :s,sd 70 nave them replace the char
So tonnage IN the routes alread,
ssy;ra. s;u. Inc hamburg-American Line il
9-iI. more than dozen vessels
Il snt but theaa will MT re ~ 1.;,
~ some time To come Thev az.
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