AMERICA'S SHIPPING ASCENDANCY

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 5, 1 October 1919, Page 8

AMERICA'S SHIPPING ASCENDANCY

AND BRITAIN'S DISAPPEARING LEAD.

The shipbuilding spurt by the United States during the war is emphasised by the now edition of "Lloyd's .Register of Shipping," the first uncehsored one since tho war began (says the "Daily Mail"). The following table shows tlie steam tonnage owned before and after the war:

Great Britain U.S. A Germany Japan

Juno, 1914. June, 1919. 18,892,000 16,315,000 '2,027,000 9,773,000 5,135,000 3,2-17,000 1,708,000 2,325,000

The seagoing tonnage of the United States has increased by about 7,750,000 lons, more than 382 per cent., as compared with 1911. Jitpan has added i.ti.OOO tons lo her merchant tonnage, equal to over 30 per cent., and the British Dominions have added 231,000 tons, or over -14 per cent. more. •

The countries where'-the greatest decrease has•'taken' place'are■

United Kingdom.-.. Greece Nonvay, Italy Spum Denmark

2,500,000 530,000 3G0.00J 192,000 175,030 139,000

Ia 1914 41.G per cent, of the world's tonnage was owned in the United Kingdom and 4.40 per cent, was composed of seagoing tonnage of the United States. Tlio present figures aro: United Kingdom, 31.1 per cent. United States, 24.9 per cent., including 20.4 per cent, of the seagoing tonnage. By far the largest loss has boen incurred by tho United Kingdom, the tonnage of* winch'is probably now ovo> 5,000,000 tons less than it would have been but for the war. Excluding enemy countries, the greatest sufferers after tho United Kingdom aro Norway to tho extent of over 1,000,000 tons, Italy 077,000 tons, and Prance 530,000 tons. It may reasonably be assumed that the world hus lost through the war 8,500,000 tons gr&s of shipping.