The New York herald., 1921-08-21
GERMANS BUILDING
ENIGRANT Ships,
ALSO FREIGHTERS
Directing the Industry to
Commercial Rather Than
Passenger Vessels.
NOW HAVE 100000 TONS
Space Gained. and Hamburg
Has Appearance Of Great
Activity.
NOW HAVE 500, TONS

Special Gable to THE NEW YoaK HERALD.
Copyright, 1921. by THE Nr. YORK HEann.
New York Herald Bureau,
Berlin. Aug. 20. I
German shipbuilding lines must
iorego the satisfaction of building luxlI-
iious liners TO replace those handed
over 70 the Allies and must concen-
trate thelr efforts on building freight
ers, declared DR.. Hasselmann secre-
tary OF the Hamburg American line.
70 The NEW York HERALD correspond
ent.
immigrants will comprise most of
the European traffic in the coming
years and TO meet this we are build
ing mostly third class ships. Cargoes
are smaller and more diversified and
therefore small freighters can be best
adapted TO the rev conditions"
Government Advances Funds.
Where do you get the money for the
present shipbuilding?" he was asked.
me Government is advancing third
oi tne amount of the total loss through
war and defeat he answered. "and
shippers are advancing the remainder 70
support their industry. In the last
Phase OF the war. when the Germans
still hoped to win through their subrna-
rines. they began the construction, of
many merchant ships. hoping them
serves TO corner a large part OF the
world trade. These they have since
completed and have delivered part of
them to the Allies, keeping the remain
der as nucleus for their own rner-
cnant marine.
with these. together with the shins
purchased. the Germans now have more
tnan oo.oD tons. compared with 1900 900
tons before the war
There has been much progress In the
matter OF economy In shipbuilding. The
Germans began to build standard type
OF ships The first plan was found not
- oe elastic enough and standardiza-
tlon principles for ships OF various d.
mensions have been further developea
Ihere IS permanent exposition at Nu-
rem noerg, showing the plans and speci-
| rications or South German and Hamburg
builders. Here Il is seen that the dis
tributing OF contracts among a large
number Of firms Is less common than
the practice of placing orders for cast
ings and the manufacture OF parts with
| factories belonging 10 industries back
ing specific shipping lines.
Tendency Toward Standardization.
Standardization of ships and fixtures bur
against a one type construction. In va
rious Hamburg shipyards the usual COM
phcated scaffolding built up from the
ground has been replaced by platforms
swung from steel cables and work has
been vastly simplified.
The ships now being built show a util-
ity In contraction without the for-
ner elegance. Economy or space il
gained through the elimination Of much
cabin and the sacrificing Of graceful lines
for bulging sides and stern. THE NEw
YORK HERALD correspondent saw the
former battleship Odin. which had been
transformed into freiehter operating
between Hamburg and Petro9rad, ard
had cargo OF 2is locomotives and
much agricultural machinery
Hugo SHINES is using freirhters ovar
the same route constructed out OF two
submarines joined together. The Ger
mans are now relocating every old bot
| tom they can get hold Of
| One freight steamship nearly conn
pleted was lying at Hamburg which or
iginally was intended for some Ham
| burg line but was included In the cate
\ gories the Allies demanded. This shin
somehow was overlooked and now Is
iusdng away at her dock The Ger
mans hesitate 70 complete or repair her
Tor fear OF attracting the attention OF
| the Allies
Hamburg harbor gives the impression
OF great activity despite the general ship
ping depression. About one fourth Of the
| Gags that could be distinguished float
ing from ships that were German