GERMAN TRADE FLEET

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 265, 5 August 1919, Page 3

GERMAN TRADE FLEET

SECRET TEUTON MERCHANT MARINE A MENACE

TONNAGE CAMOUFLAGED UNDER NEUTRAL FLAGS

Even if Germany loses every ocean-go-ing ship flying her flag she will still remain a maritime menace to tho world, says an article entitled "Germany Shipping Unmasked," bv Henry C. Wiltbanli, in tho July issue of the 'Rudder." Germany, tho article states, has a secret merchant niarino estimated at half a million tons gross, camouflaged under tho flags of neutral nations, and she wijl U6O this massed fleet as the basis for tho restoration of her maritime power aiuT of her old methods of commercial penetration. Tho assumption that Germany is eliminated as a factor in world shipping as erroneous as it is dangerous. While' she may be stricken from consideration as a serious menace for the immediate future, her period of helplessness is likely to be a very limited one. Within five years, it is indicated, sho can increase her shipping from 300,000 tons of n'on-soagoing vessels to more than H.CCO.OOO tons of ocean ships. This would place her again among tho maritime leaders of the world, with a mercantile marine exceeded only by those of the United States and Great Britain..

' That Germany will try to come back is as certain as that she will com back unless co-operative international action is taken to.*prevent her return,to her old power and old methods. The fact that sho is practically without .merchant tonnage is no guarantee of her helplessness, for the future. Nor is the frequently cited point that her shipyards must build for the Allied nations for years to come warrant tjiat sho can secure no 66a."oing tonnage for her own use. "It is only within the very recent past that tho world has begun to learn of what developed in Germany in connection with German shipping during the war'period. Tho. tale of what happened behind the mask of secrecy thrown upon its maritime affairs by Teutonisni is still far from complete. Gradually, however, tho story is being pieced together, and each successive development is a blow at tho contention that Germany may bo dismissed from consideration as a forco in connection with the future of world shipping. She will not rank with tho lenders again for years to como, but ,tho years may be vory few and sho may bo m a position to make her competition felt within a very short time. "Bitterest of all the blows doalt to Germany by the peace terms is the loss of her merchant shipping. The taking of her navy brought littlo protest from the Teuton public, but tho proposition to strip her of her trade fleets caused a far greater outcry than any means of reparation required of her. This is easily understandable when it is realised whero shipping has stood in the Gorman scheme of affairs. Its mission was to wear tho i>ath to the coveted 'place in the sun.' "Tho spectacle of Germania wailing over tho loss of her ships calls for no sympathy, however. What she is getting is only a fraction of' what she would havo given in the ovent of Teutonic victory. Pan-Germanism's _ plans for the disposition of Allied shippinu were thoroughly mapped out when tho campaign of unrestricted warfare wes at its height and wero received with acclaim by tho German peiile. " 'Of course,' tho programme ran, tho war will end favourably for us. It has, therefore, been decided to take a leaf out of England's book and claim "ton-for-ton" indemnity.' "But this was only by way of prelude, for it was further proposed to collect an indemnity of M per cent, of all onoiny merchant fleets, with tho excop-. tion of Belgium's. Not," however, that that' country was to receive special consideration in tho general plan of seizure. Belgium "was 'to .be annexed and its merchant marine absorbed in toto. "On the basis outlined, it was figured, the balanco of shipping power would be markedly in tho Central Powers' hands, giving them 14,000,000 gross tons inoro than all tho Allies combined. Teutonic Alliance, 17,800,000 tons; Entente Powers, 3,5C0,000 tons, was tho" German plan of distribution.. "The Allies having won, Germany is called upon to turn over a total of about 3,000,000 gross tons of shipping in liW possession—about a quarter of tho actual war losses of tho non-Teutonic trade fleets. Hod Germany von, sho planned to tako over 11,090,000 tons of Allied shipping, which would havo placed lior in absolute commercial domination of tho <jeas. . . , , "But even pleasing visions of a colossal absorption of Allied tonnage did not cause Germany to cease active preparations for after-war shipping. Activity on the utmost scale attainable went on in German shipyards during the period of hostilities. Secrecy as to what was actually transpiring wa§ maintained to the greatest degree poesiblo and propaganda was brought into play "to conceal the facts. "Much dress was laid upon the building of huge liners, although these were practically complete at tho time the war broko out, and some of them had been launched even 'before tho beginning of hostilities. Nothing was said, however, about the construction of large fleets of steel cargo carriers, which it was planned to havo ready laden with accumulated stocks of goods to sail for foreign ports as soon as the blockade was lifted. "Developments since tho signing of the armistice indicate that Genitany actually did turn out during the war period not far from 750,000 gross tons, and that tho greater part of this was comprised of steel cargo earners. "In fact, Germany's production of shipping in 1914 was greater than for any preceding year, with the exception of 1913. when it reached 465,000 tons.

"Records of the Germanischcr Lloyd, which have reached this country in the past few weeks, give tho German output from 1914 to 1917, inclusive, as 212 steamships, aggregating 630,000 tons. In the samo poriod the number of shipbuilding companies was almost doubled, tho capital invested in these concerns was illcreased nearly 100 per cent., und many new docks were established. ■ "In tho year before tho war German shipyards produced 405,000 tons. With the extension' of facilities already noted tliey should he capnblo of an annual output of 000,000 tons at a conservative estimate. Oi' this 200,000 tons would have to be turned over to the Allies, leaving 400.000 tons yearly for homo supply or 2.000.000 tons in five years. "Threo things in addition to construction facilities aro necessary to ensure this production, however, ma " crial. and money must I 10_ had,' continues the "Rudder," and it points out how they can ho scoured, adding: "Germany then, may bo ahle within live years to' construct 2,000,000 gross tons of merchant shipping in her home yardo. Sho will need at least another million tons if she is to participate to any extensive degree in world trade. 'Whore will sho get it? "This nuestiom brings us face to face with another one:

"Has Germany to-day a secret merchant marine—one that will bo left to lior after everv ocean-going ship ilying tho German flag lias been absorbed I)}' tho Allies? "Tho indications are that she has. Its extent is probably in excess of 500,000 gross tons. "It. is becoming more evident every ilav that the scopo of the. world's commercial anger against Germany is limited to the Aliies. Switzorland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and Holland, in tho order named, declined to meet the wishes of Hie Aliies by agreeing to participate in a blockade against Germany in case she refused to sign tho Peacn Treaty. They have nothing to gain by tho seizure of Germany's shipping and much to lose by the breaking off of commercial relations. German capital is invested in their industries and they have Inken over no German property or interests during the war. It is to them that Germanv looks confidently to furnish the foundations for the resumption of her world trade. She regards all non-Allied Europe as her stepping-off point. "Some idea of how Germany har> operated to secure control of industries in other countries has been given 'by the revelntinnc Wowing Iho secures of enemy holdings in the United Slates. Tn Europe tho German method of commercial penetration have been the same, and there is every reason to believe that the shipping and shipbuilding of many noutral countries are honeycombed

with German capitn.l, officered by German subjects or their dummy representatives, and directed in tho interests of German commerce. It is this organised effort that has brought into beins a sccrct German trndo ileet, operated under foreign (tags, mid has thereby injected into tho shipping situation a inctor against which tho Allies may find it hard to contend. "That Germany during the war worked with an eyo to her alter-war trade is shown by tlio way in which sho sought to extend lror sphere of shipping influence by negotiating for the control of shipyards in neutral countries. Some instances of this were cited recently by tho British publication, tho "Syren and Shipping," which stated: " 'Negotiations have been talcing plr.ee for the acquisition of a- Dutch yard by tho Hamburg owner, Wilhelm Homsoth. We have already reported the. movement to found a new yard at Hon,why in Sweden, backed by German money and under German technical direction. In the Baltic provinces of Itussia and in 1' inlaud similar efforts are being made.' 1 "With German interests in control of professedly neutral enterprises German trade would be greatly strengthened. Not only could tonnage be secured after the war, but by building and registering ships in neutral countries Germany could obtain access to enemy countries. "An even greater advantage would bo that with German interests in control of neutral shipping, companies the routes of the vessels could be altered so as 10 Icke in German ports and regular sendees could be instituted limited to the carrying of German cargo 011 outward voyages. Furthermore, tho transfer of the ships to tho German flag or their sale to open German interests could bo effected whenever the time was decided to b« opportune. "Another weapon which Germany has sought to employ in her campaign of preparation for after-war .shipping conditions is the nominal transfer to neutral interests of ships built during the period of hostilities. While it was announced in tho shipping torms recently laid down to Germany that such sales.would not be recognised, no intimation has been given of the attitude of tho neutral countries concerned in regard to the matter. "With the buiidiug in Home shipyards 'of 2,000.000 tons for homo use in live years, and with an estimated 500,000 tons of German-controlled shipping sailing under the flags of other nations, Germany would require but an additional 500,01)0 tons to give her tho 3,000,000 needed for a Teturn to maritimo power 011 the scale she seeks. This amount could easily be bought up fiom other countries in tho coming five years. "What steps will bo taken to prevent the maritimo renaissance of Germany. Seamen of Allied countries have declared a boycott against nil Temton vessels, ma it remains co bo seen how far this wilt be carried into elfect and how eitectivo it will be. Tho peace terms, drastic as they are, mortgage the futuio of the Teutonic mercantilo marine but do not eliminate its power 01 development. "In fact, it may ho questioned whether it is to the interests of Luropo to keep Germany out of overseas trade. Jutn onlv European markets 111 which to sell its goods, Teutonic- industry would resort to a trado way so intensified as to precipitate general commercial disaster outlie Continent. Wii lo Germany cannot bo restrained utterly, however, she can and must be kept within the bounds of commercial dccttncj. iaat she is definitely eliminated as a mailtmo Power is tho argument of folly. SlTeVay not be a force for years to come, but the years will not be many ana world comnienoe should make its calculations accordingly.'