New-York tribune., 1922-08-30
Owners leased
AT w Witlldrawa
Oft. s. essels
Private Lines See Beginning
Of End of Government
Competition; Move in
Other Services Expected
Coastal Decision DELAYED
,uestionnaire by Ship Board
Asks for Great Volume Of
information ON Past Trips

Steamship owners yesterday well
consed the withdrawal Of the Shipping
Board Kerr Line service TO Hamburg
and Bremen as the beginning Ut the
end OF government competition with
private vessels. While the board he's
abandoned services on previous oc-
casions. there was M inclinatici, yes
serday to attach greater Importance TO
the present action Ia view Of the an
nouncement that the step was made be-
cause the route was already over
tonnaged with private ships.
Similar moves are expected in other
trade routes, especially in the inter
coastal and Colombian services. as
soon as this board considers that the
tins Is opportune. The action Of the
board on the Hamburg Bremen run
wss not due TO specific protests from
Other American companies, SO far as
could be learned yesterday, but was
voluntary. There Is considerable
speculation whether the board now will
take up the offer Of the Luckenbach
Line TO put its vessels on the New
fork- Rotterdam service on the con-
eition that government ships be with-
drawn.
Clyde May Buy Ships
As intimated recently, conditions IN
the Colombian trade are rapidly ap-
preaching point where the difficulties
between the board and the United
Fruit Company will be eliminated. 1t
is understood that the Clyde Line may
purchase the government ships and
that this will be followed by restora-
tion of the conference, though no of
fetal information on this point can be
obtained
The intercoastal situation has been
complicated by the Questionnaire sent
cut by the Shipping Board to private
lines In this trade. An official OF one
company said yesterday that this asks
FOR detailed information on ships,
tonnage, loading and discharging ports
for the last two years, and that "three
months will be required to complete
the data 1t was his opinion that the
board is seeking delay in rendering
decision on the request of the Ameri-
can sSteamship Owners Association for
withdrawal OF the government vessels.
A copy OF the questionnaire could not
be secured.
The determination Of the board to
give UP the Kerr Line service from
United States North Atlantic ports to
Hamburg and Bremen, and also the
elimination OF the service of the
United American Lines to the Dutch
East, Indies, seem to have been
reached with the full consent of all
concerned.
Ciegg and Beck Satisfied
A. e. Clegg, vice-president Of the
Kerr Line, and Christian J.. Beck, traffic
manager for the United American
Lines, said that they were entirely satis-
fedswith the new deal The United
American had five government ships
In the service. It was said that the
company does not contemplate putting
its own vessels on the route, as all
Of its tonnage is occupied at present.
Announcement Of the consolidation
Of the Dutch East Indies and Indian
eerVicas under the Kerr Line was not
explicit on the nature of the arrange
ment. Mr.. Clegg said that the com
pany will have six or seven steamers
ins<the trade, maintaining a monthly
schedule of sailings through the Suez
Canal,
The Shipping Board vessels with
drawn from the Hamburg Bremen serv-
Ice are the Chickagaw, City of Flint.
Western Helix. Scoharie, Chappaqua,
Motristown and Corson, all Of about
$500 deadweight tons.