BIG SHIPPING WAR.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1895, 1 November 1913, Page 5

BIG SHIPPING WAR.

HAMBURG-AMERICAN BOATS IN AUSTRALIA, ' Airiving out of what is known as 5l S'penan Conferonca, whereby tne North German Lloyd and Ham-burg-American companies conducted the passenger and oargo business to the Far Bast, it Was stated recently that it was more than probable that a' bitter struggb would result between those corporations, and that other concerns might conceivably be involved, such as the German-Australian, Hansa, German East African, and German-South American linos, while any trouble would of ; necessity embrace tho North Atlantic business of tho chief Contestants. It was further stated.that the advent of tho of. the Hamburg-American Company in Australian waters was probable. Recent cables confirmed this. The first of tho fleet of Hamburg-American cargo-carriers will reach Sydney either at tho end of this year or the beginning of next. These vessels will at first make tho outward and homeward trips via the Suez Canal, but, when the Panama Canal is ready for navigation, it is believed that the Australian business will be conducted entirely by tlicr Cape of Good Hope route. The round* tlio-world service via the Suez and Panama waterways will be of such a character as to fully cater for cargo offering, first from Europe to Osylon.. Singapore.. Hongkong, Shanghai, and Jadpan, cargo for Europe via Panama b'eink picked up at intermediate Asiatic' ports of call. , Four years and a quarter have ola.psed since a proposal, emanating from Hamburg, for an amalgamation of tho Hamburg-American and North German Lloyd, was rejected by Bremen, though, there were people there who 'regarded it with favour. Since that time it has been more or legs generally known that a struggle, likely to involve the entire German moreantilo marine; would eventuate, unless influences of an outside, still enormously powerful, character were able to prevent it. At present > there is no sign of any such peing forthcoming, though the Kaiser has been credited with declaring ithat ho would do his utmost ta prevent a strife that "Would inflict incalculable damage on Germany's shipping." At Colombo, Singapore, Calcutta, Honk-Kong, Shanghai, and Yokohama the, progress of events is being watched with the closest interest, for it is felt that in, the event of a freight war the area' .of operations' would be extended, and British and Japanese interests involved. The dispute between tho British India S.N. Company and the Nippon Ytison Kaisha, which shows no signs of settlernent, is regarded as constituting a sufficiently disturbing factor, without tho introduction of a new and much more serious one. It Is possible, that in the event of the North German Lloyd stopping its Australian mail and passenger service in March next, the one-class passenger ship, Cape of Good Hopo service, will bo entered upon. The passenger service to and from the Far East since tho improvement ef the Trans-Siberian railway, and the enterprise of American, Canadian, and Japanese ship-owners, has boon almost entirely diverted from tho Suez route, so the new ships that the Hamburg-American Company are to plaeo in commission on tho expiry of tho East Siberian agreement on the Bth of next month have but limited accommodation for travellers, but very con- I siderablo cargo capacity. j

■ The exact effect of a struggle between the chief Gorman shipping concerns on Australinn_ shipping is a subject upon which considerable speculation prevails; In Sydney, as < in the Far East, tlie possibility of its extending beyond its original borders is reoocnisod, but it is equally held that conditions governing the Far East and Middle East trade do not apply in anything like the same proportions to the Australian trade, and that British shipowners are so strong that tlioy would ho able to prevent a disruption of the freight market by a war of euttintj, or nt least confine is to nil extremely limited period. The wliolo freight market is almost certain to he subjected to fluctuation by the new situation tlio Panama Canal will sot up.