Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1939-12-22
EFFECT OF The
WAR ON LOCAL
ADVANTAGES

An analysis of the effect of the
European war on American cimmerce
and industry has been laid before lead
ers Of business by speakers represen-
ting aviation, the merchant marine,
employer-labor relations, foreign af-
fairs and business.
The boil-down on the effect Of the
war was made in addresses before
the Economic Club of New York at
the Astor Hotel. Speakers were Juan
T. Trippe, President and General
Manager of the Pan-American Air
ways; Rear Admiral Emory S. Land,
Chairman of the Maritime Commits
sion; Edward F. McGrady, Vice-Presi-
dent. of the Radio Corporation OF
America and one-time Assistant Sec
rotary of Labor; DIR. ]. Anton De
Haas, Professor of Foreign Relation
ship at Harvard University and Gen.
Robert E. Wood, Chairman OF the
Board of Sears Roebuck and Com
pany.
Mr.. Trippe told the diners, repres-
enting all phases of business, large
and small, that the first of six new
transatlantic clippers now under con-
struction would be placed into service
within 80 days and that when all were
completed the flying boats would leave
Port Washington, L. L, for Lisbon,
Portugal every day save Sundays. The
present schedule calls for take-offs
twice weekly. Much of the difficult
ties besetting air travel as a result
of the war have been eliminated, he
added.
Ct am particularly happy to be able
to report that American trans-Atlan-
tic service already has justified ITSELF
for on all these additional schedules
we expect to be able to carry any
American air mail rendered without
a cent of subsidy COST" Mr.. Trippe
said.
The Pan-American Anyways head
said that British and French airlines
were preparing to provide connection
services to London and Paris from
Lisbon in the near future.
Gwen without the direct British and
French air connections, nearly half a
million air-mail letters are being car
ried across the Atlantic each week,
and passengers are being turned a.
way" he added.
Admiral Land held that although
the Neutrality Act now in force had
given the American merchant marine
telling "bunps," the European war
might not all. be written on the debit
side of American shipping's ledger.
"Losses in merchant tonange abroad
have been very heavy" he recalled.
att may be assumed that this destruc-
ton will continue for some time. The
possibility of replacing during the war
that tonnage which has been sent to
the bottom is, of course, very remote,
if nonexistent. AS result, the new
American merchant fleet can acquire
an advantage on many of the worlds
important trade routes through the
fast and efficient vessels both COM
pleted and under construction in the
Maritime Commissions building pro-
gram.
"When normal commerce is resum-
ed, additional new vessels will be
ready to enter those routes now closed
by combat prescriptions. Certain pre-
ferences will be gained from shippers
through the excellent service thus Of
fered and foreign competitors who
have in recent years been able to take
advantage of our maritime indiffer-
ence will find these services most diff
ficult to equal"
Admiral Land saw, however, insult
ficient trade outside of prescribed
areas to employ all the vessels turn
ed away from European ports, but
added that some of them would find
Temporary berths" in other services.
"There is, however," he continued,
"the possibility of selling abroad
many of our older merchant vessels
and when, and if, that is done, you
may assume large part of the sales
price will be employed in the acqui-
sition of new tonnage"
Mr.. McGrady said that both labor
and business were fighting to keep
the United States out of war and to
eliminate and prevent war profiteer-
ing.
Labor, as well as business, feels
that we may only count surely on
our own home markets, which depend