Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-05-04
More Merchant Ships on Ways
BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN.

Whatever the result Of the Naval
Disarmament Conference at London
finally proves to be, 1t Il certain that
the maritime nations Of the world are
engaged in O merchant marine con-
struction program unequaled in mag
nitude since before the war, save for
the brief postwar boom. centered about
1928. when an effort was made to re-
place some Of the tonnage lost by
sinkings.
Shipyards are reSounding to the
clang OF plates and the waters are
troubled by the initial plunges Of yes
sells large and small In this industry
unemployment has been cut down ma
terially. for throughout the entire world
merchant shipbuilding is exceeding the
pre-war level.
The United States shipyards are TAX
ing an important role in this burst Of
activity among shipwrightS. After q
steady rise which has been In process
for some time, American shipyards In
the last quarter of 1929 moved into
third place in the volume Of new ship
ping on the ways. Great Britain stu
holds its premier position. as it has for
generations. The shipways along the
Clyde are hive Of industry and great
SSAs1Ae4NN0@@~~
steamers and trim yachts are being
put into commission in q steady
stream. The great yards ct Belfast In
Ireland contribute very largely to the
place Of leadership occupied by Great
Britain.
that place is being sharply challenged
quarter of 1880 Germany's new tonnage
on the ways was only 5000 tons-the
size of one small standardized OF
new American building.
The speed with which the United
States has come UP from behind Is
of special interest. In the last year
| this country has moved up from nth
maintains her rate Of building and
increases 1t, the next quarter may see
the United States second only to Great
| Britain in new merchant ships IN
course of construction.
| where Other Countries Rank.
In taking third place the Unitet
States has displaced the Netherlands
This little kingdom has . long seafartnt
largely by vikings from the north whG
made the sea their home, she hal
throughout been q nation Of Shipbuild,
ers and navgators. At periods II
her history her merchant ships hay'
swarmed the seas and her navy ha'
challenged all others. even that o.
Great Britain. The tradition has beer
maintained, and although one Of thu
smallest kingdoms today her merchant
sea power Is substantial. It Il sum
GENTLY remarkable that O nation ne
larger, no more populous, nor more
wealthy than any OF several States Of
the American Union should have helt
third place in merchant shipbuildinl
until displaced by this country. Thu
Netherlands now has dropped into flftt
place in current shipbuilding.
Another shift which has marked tl1i:
contest for mercantile sea power Is thai
France has displaced Japan in fourth
place. France. too, has long tradi-
ton Of seamanship, and now her yards
are under the stimulus of launching new
keels to take part In the scramble fol
world trade. Japan's maritime story
is one Of the most fascinating In the
world. Only yesterday, from the his.
torical point Of view, she had no xner-
chant marine, beyond q few ooastine
junks, and no navy. To-day she Is one
of the great naval powers, while hel
merchant marine Is o formidable one
The transpacifc liners built in Japan
and owned by Japanese interests are
among the most splendid on the seas