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Experts in This Country and Abroad vide return cargoes. The board sent a committee of experts abroad recently to make a survey of the situation in Europe. The committee is composed of W. M. Brittain, secretary of the American Steamship association; Joseph Scott, assistant manager of the States Marine & Commercial Co.;-A. W. Burchand, vice president of the Genetal Electric Co, and |. R. Gordon of the Union Sulphur Co. The shipping board has over 150 vessels en- gaged in European food relief, of more than 950,000 deadweight tons. There was an increase of over 150,000 deadweight tons assigned to this service dur- ing April. What may have been the unit of measure used to make these allocations has not been made clear although private American operators are not entirely satisfied with the situation. While politics may not as yet have entered into this plan of opera- tion, a good example of what might be expected was exhibited last month in Washington when a delega- tion representing Wilmington, N. C.; Charleston, S. C.; Brunswick and Savannah, Ga., and Jackson- ville, Fla., appealed to the shipping board for the use of 14 government ships to be operated out of these southern ports in the Latin-American trade. United States Senators Simmons, of North Carolina, and Trammell, of Florida, headed the delegation of appeal. 'When the United States undertook to provision Europe, Russia was not Tonnage figured into the compilation. Now D 4 it is proposed to feed Russia as well. emanes This would undoubtedly make a tre- Are Heavy mendous drain upon the American shipping facilities, and would demor- alize the American tonnage market for many months. French and English shipping in- terests are busy with their own affairs, and could not help in the movement of the food cargoes to Russia. The enormous demand on American ships has been readily discernible in the few charters that have been taken recently. These have been few because .not many ships are being offered. Establishes Record On the other i At- | PORTLAND, Oreg. (by wire), Hi a May 9.--The Columbia River the Sinton ve | Shipbuilding Corp., Portland, Oreg., difareut Chane on May 8 launched the 8800-ton ters for foreign steamer, City oF Eureka, 27 days easels both for after the keel was laid. The ves- : sel will be completely outfitted by May 17 which will make her ready for trial 36 days from the beginning of construction operations. . The Eureka is the nineteenth vessel to be launched by the company since its yard was established in March, 1917. So far this year, the yard has launched from its five ways 10 steel vessels of which eight have been delivered. (Signed) Sydney Vincent, Chamber of Commerce. age, can now be made in Europe without the con- sent of the min- istry of ship- ping or the in- terallied char- tering executive. Anumber of vessels ranging from 3500 to 7000 tons are said to have been fixed for time and voy-: -- SEEK CARGOES Committee of Experts Make Survey L of European Trade Situation to Pro- vide Return Cargoes for Relief Ships six months on the basis of 20 shillings, general trad- ing. There has been some business put through on American account at 25 shillings for 12 months' trans- atlantic trading. Mutual vessels are in good demand at fairly good rates for certain bottoms. In comparison with the activities in the American shipping field has been noted, in strong contrast, what the foreign lines are planning. The: French- Canada Steamship Corp. has decided to establish an office in Philadelphia and it is presumed that the line will serve that port with frequent sailings to Italy, France, South America and South Africa. The Pacific Steam Navigation Co., a British organization, has announced its intention of establishing a line between New York and Valparaiso. The Bocota, with 8100-ton capacity, recently launched at Birken- head, England, will be the first vessel put into this service. She is expected to réach New York Gary in June. The line intends to establish a regular pas- senger and freight service between New York and Valparaiso as quickly as the steamers are released by the government and thereby carry out plans drafted prior to the war. The Cunard line has increased its capital and will build a large office building in New York to house its American headquarters. The Cunard has acquired the controlling interest in the Anchor line from Glas- gow to New York and the Donaldson line from Glas- gow to Canada, as well as absorbed some smaller lines. The line has opened new offices in Antwerp in the Hansa House in order to meet the peace time demand for passenger and freight traffic. The Cunard has made Southampton the eastern terminal for its express service to New York. _ Charter conditions on the North Pa- cific have not changed greatly from Oriental a month ago. Spot carriers are still Market in demand while the market for space to the Orient continues weak. Is Weak There have been ample carriers to handle business moving to China and Japan while vessels coming. from the Orient have great difficulty in obtaining freight. some of them coming in ballast or only partly loaded. The private lines operating to Far East ports are, as a rule, basing their bookings on the level fixed by the shipping board of $12 for weight and $14 measurement. There is a large quantity of steel and cotton moving from North Pacific ports and for the moment there is sufficient cargo to fill outgoing tonnage. However, with the lack of eastbound cargo and the uncertainty. of what will be seeking space westbound the situation as a whole presents a problem. While some astute operators think the market 267