New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-07-09
German Cr@sus, Enraged
at Harnburg-American
Line, Forces Fight to
Obtain Marine Control
Rate War Expected
On Atlantic Route
British Group Is Backing
Drive to Get Lead i'm
Dealings With Russia

German shipping interests, in seek
ing to regain the world trade lost by
Germany in 1914, have split into two
cipitate rate war on the international
trade routes.
On one side is the Hamburg -Ameri
can Line, with view of upbuilding the
American and German merchant ma
rine on a reciprocal basis. On the
other Hugo SHINES, who was ousted
recently from the directorate of the
Hamburg-American Line and who is
described as the "one-man octopus of
Germany" because of his vast holdings
in coal and iron mines, is credited with
having launched a program which will
call for II ships, aggregating almost
100000 gross tons, to be operated by
German and British capital in opposi-
ton to American ships.
Rate War Is Predicted
The Marine Journal, in making these
disclosures in its issue published to-
day, declares that gigantic trade
duel has been launched to determine
whether the marine situation is to be
controlled on this side of the Atlantic
or on the other. 1t is asserted that a
rate war appears inevitable.
There is also said to be an arrange
ment between SHINES and a British in
dnstrial group to exploit and obtain
supremacy in the trade with Russia
Revenge is said to be the motive
behind Stinnes's attempt to outdo the
Hamburg-American interests. Fore
seeing his tendencies, the line several
months ago took steps to oust him as
director. The voting power con-
ferred on him by his holdings in the
lines stock was mnimized by special
issue of preferred stock which was
kept out of his reach. 1t did not take
him long to gather his forces in Europe
with view to retaliating.
-, From a shipping standpoint" says
The Marine Journal, "the most inter
esting aspect of the situation is that a
marine duel between the SHINES lines
and the Hamburg Line would
be fought not merely with the vessels
and resources of those two companies
but with those of the German com
panles affiliated with them, as we'll
And II these reserves are called upon
there will be battle of the seas be-
side which all previous commercial
conflicts on the ocean will dwindle in
to insignificance.
SHINES a Powerful Foe
"Stinnes must be regarded as for
mldaple competitor in anything he un-
dertakes. He controls coal mines and
ore deposits with which to make the
steel and iron that go into the manu-
facture of ships and machinery. the
shipyards and engineering work 9
necessary for the production of YES.
sells and the shipping organization with
which to operate them. And through
ms other industrial enterprises he is
IN position to furnish cargoes for
the ships. So that, from the produc-
tlon OF the raw material to the delivery
OF the finished product to the foreign
ouyer, every, detail of the business is
Ia his own hands. And he even pos.
sesses q. chain of newspapers with
which, If necessary, public opinion
might be. nodded in Germany"
Confirmation of the threatened rate
war is cited by The Journal from the
Hamburg Abendblatt of Nav 81
"Stinnes is better prepared for a rate
war than the Hamburg American Line. !"
says the German authority at is said
that. Stinness shipbuilding program
consists OF about seventy-seven ships
OF from 5000 to $4,000 tons. If this fig-
ure should be only approximately cor
rect it is certain that SHINES will have
considerable influence on the freight
Continual an mana fIva\