Usa Ships

To Replace British In Pacific Services

IT was officially announced in Washing ton, on June 3, by the United States Maritime Commission, that vessels carrying the United States flag will supersede British vessels on routes in the Pacific, between North American ports, and Australia and NZ, thus releas ing British vessels for service elsewhere.

The announcement caused a stir in Australian shipping circles and there were urgent requests for details, but none were forthcoming.

One American report said that the new arrangement would release “dozens of ships” for British services in Euro pean and Atlantic waters; but a careful analysis indicated that not many vessels would be affected—mostly those of the Canadian-Australasian and Union SS Co. lines, and a few freighters.

When we went to press in mid-June the whole plan was being actively dis cussed among shipping companies with interests in the Pacific. It was obvious that, while the shipping companies con cerned were very willing to assist Britain in every possible way in the war effort, they were most reluctant to give up to American interests their hard-won place in the Pacific maritime trade —because they fear they will have difficulty in regaining their place at the end of the war.

It appears that President Roosevelt set out to provide 2,000,000 tons of shipping for the Anglo-American shipping pool, wherewith to assist Britain’s war effort.

Presumably, the plan to substitute American ships for British ships in the Pacific is designed as one way of adding to this pool. It was reported from USA, on June 3, that the President up to that date, had found only 900,000 tons of ship ping for the 2,000,000 tons pool.