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| World Charter Market Reviewed by OUTLINES PLAN Policy of Private Operation of American Merchant Marine Def- initely Proposed by E. N. Hurley HAIRMAN HURLEY, of the United States shipping board, has committed himself to the policy of private operation of the American merchant marine. From this fact, the American ship operators have gained considerable satisfaction al- though practically everyone insists that some amend- ments must be adopted to the plan advanced by Mr. Hurley for the disposal of shipping board vessels. This is practically a belated acknowledgment on the part of the shipping board of a maritime principle which has already been accepted by England. But Mr. Hurley would have strings to his disposal of government ships, whereas England apparently does not insist upon any. The new White Star line freighter, Barpic, of 10,000 deadweight tons capacity, reached New York last month. She is one of the hundred or more British standard vessels sold by the British govern- ment to Lord Inchcape and Sir Owen Phillips. These vessels are entirely free from any and every form of government control as adopted during the war. The Barpic was built at Belfast, Ireland, by Har- land & Wolff and makes from 13 to 14 knots. Her voyage from .Liverpool was made in 10 days. This oifers an imposing contrast to the standard ships built for the shipping board. And the American vessels have not yet been sold, the method of their disposi- tion is just now being discussed. Owners and operators of ocean-go- ing vessels are well cognizant of Delay this exasperating delay on the part Do of the American government. The American public, however, is apt to Dangerous ook upon the Hurley proposal as precipitous. While the American flag is being carried to foreign ports, it is being carried on a freighter schedule. The ship- ping board will undoubtedly continue to allocate its vessels to private operators under agreements, until some national program is' worked out, which ma be the Hurley program or may be some other. The delay in working out this solution, however, is prov- ing detrimental to the water-borne trade of the United States. Foreign competition grows daily and private American lines are unable to prophecy with any degree of accuracy what services they will be in a position to offer when peace is declared. The Cunard Steamship Co. has secured a pier at Philadelphia which it will use as a terminal for the monthly freight service just established between that port and Bristol, England. The British vessel, KEE- NUM, was the first vessel placed in that service Many foreign vessels docked at Philadelphia last month which has given encouragement to that port but many of these have undoubtedly been driven ae from the port of New York due to the harbor sitike ce. Philadelphia, however, has set on nar : Ee ihent to re-establish steamship connections with Calcutta, Ceylon and Colombo, a service formerly furnished by the America & India line. : Many large freighters have also gone to Baltimore for unloading. These were from South America and Europe. Several of the European vessels arrived in ballast to take on cargoes of foodstuffs. More than one-half of these vessels docking at Baltimore were originally intended for New York and other American ports. Most of the British boats coaled at Halifax before proceeding to New York. Others refused to come to New York. Passengers leaving for Europe on the Orympic, CaRMANIA and other boats were compelled to proceed to Halifax to embark. The sailing of the Aprratic from New York was postponed on account of the strike. Norwegian, Swedish and other vessels passed New York by and went to Baltimore and other ports. ee The steamship lines, however, are of the opinion that the trouble at the port of New York will be. but short lived and preparations are proceeding for the establishment of new services. The Three Star line will have a monthly service from New York to Algiers direct with the steamships ANDRE and WIMBLEDON. Through bills of lading will be issued between New York and Morrocan, Algerian and Tunisian points. Considerable skepticism is ex- pressed over the situation at Buenos American Aires. The harbor strike has con- Ships tinued much longer than was thought Tied U possible, but the foreign element = P there appears to dominate the situa- tion. So long as exports are boy- cotted, the movement of grain and other products of Argentine will suffer. Not only American vessels, but English ships as. well are now avoiding Buenos Aires. Some American exporters have been compelled to charter sailing vessels in order to fill contracts with South American cus- tomers. Shipping in the port has become congested and many ves- sels are tied up there. Fifty or more American ships are held in Buenos Aires in forced inac- tivity because of the strike. Some ot the. Ger- man merchant- men have been turned over to the United States but these promise little immediate relief because they will be used as troop trans- ports. The for- mer Hamburg- American liner, ANDALUSIA, has arrived at Phil- Sees Small Profit APP iINs to R. Martens of R. Martens & Co., New York, a steamer costing to build before the war from $25 to $30 per ton deadweight was sold dur- ing the last year of the war ap- proximately for $200 per ton or even higher. Already within a few months after signing of the armistice, sea freights have dropped between 60 per cent and 70 per cent, with the consequence that the enormous decrease in the earning capacities of steamers has caused depreciation of their sell- ing value, and a subsequent de- crease of the building value. At the same time, while their book value and earning capacity is high, tax charges leave but small profit. 222