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) xperts in [his Country and Abroad Two new foreign services will be inaugurated by W. Elwell & Co. for the shipping board. One is a gener- al cargo line from Rotterdam, Hamburg and Antwerp to Italian ports. The other is a cargo service from the same continental ports to Lisbon, Malta, Saloniki, Constantinople, Varna, Vraila, Constanza and Piraeus. Abraham Frankel and associates have organized the Atlantic, Gulf & Mediterranean Steamship Co., but no definite plans have been announced. The United States Mediterranean Steamship Co. has obtained the ex- transport KILPATRICK, renamed her the Acropotts and will operate her between New York and Mediter- ranean ports, carrying passengers and freight. Repairs are being made at an American yard. From Cuba comes the report the Ward line will re- establish its full freight services between Havana, New York and New Orleans. This decision has been reach- ed as a result of the improvement in the port condi- tions at Havana, The Ward line has abandoned tem- porarily its Brazil and River Plate business, leaving the Munson line alone in it. The Munson line is contin- uing its Mexican services and is making considerable progress with its Cuban business. The Grace line has decided to add Mollendo, Peru, as a port of call, north- bound, this port being accommodated by three of the Grace steamers on alternate Wednesdays. Among the most spectacular deals of the month was the purchase of Brit the two largest passenger boats afloat ye by two British companies. Both of Acquire these vessels were German-built and Big Ships _came to England through reparations agreements. The Cunard line pur- chased the IMPERATOR, the BISMARCK has been acquired by the White Star line. The Bismarck is to be renamed the Majestic and will be ready for service in the transatlantic trade by 1922. The Cunard line operated the ImMpERATOR last summer, but it is necessary to make some repairs to her. The Baltic-American line has decided to add a fourth steamer. Russ renamed Good Time to Buy the Latavia, to its service from APT. Robert Dollar recently New: York to bought eight vessels, explaining his purchase on the ground that "wher anything is selling so cheap that it cannot go any lower, then is the time to buy. Ship tonnage is now at that stage. It can not be worth any less, and some day it must be worth more. That is why I am buying. I could lay the ships up and hold them until conditions right themselves and_ still make money on it. The shipping business has always existed and it always will. It has its ups and downs, just like other lines of business. Not long ago we had the ups, and now we have the downs. Sooner or later it will be up again. We made enough to weather the slump." Danzig and Li- bau. -The Russ is Danish owned. The -- Holland- American line has decided to equip its new 32,000-ton pas- senger liner now building ~-- with diesel engines The engines wil! be built in Eng- land under the Burmeister & Wain license. The North Ger- man Lloyd line interests have just voted to 167 FEAR RATE CUT Lack of Cargo Offerings Threatens Tariffs on Pacific--Readjustment Believed Ne ar End--Lumber Down : double the capital in order to re-establish it on the sea and to carry out its operating agreements with the United States Mail Steamship Co., New York, and the J. H. W. Steele Co., Galveston. Two new shipping companies have recently been registered in France. One is the Societe Navale du Nord, Paris, and the other the Societe Navale Mediterranierine, Marseilles. * The French line has established a monthily service © from New York to Vigo, Spain. Last month, the Ward line began on a similar berth. It was further- more announced the Cunard line will establish a new service between Cuban and European ports, probably next June. Furness, Withy & Co. have brought the steamer WANDILLA, a sister ship to the Fort Vic- TorIA, from Australia and will place her in the Ber- muda service. The Ellerman & Bucknell Java service will be started soon. This is a Canadian line, which will operate out of Montreal for Java and Indian ports. Reports from Santiago state that Chile pro- poses to reserve her coastwise service exclusively to Chilean vessels. Following the 25 per cent reduction in rates on United Kingdom, made to meet the extra low rates to French Atlantic and reported last month, there has been a weakness in the rates to Scandinavian ports. Later the rates to Indian ports dropped 20 per cent. General cargo can now be done for $21, and machinery and steel for $20 a ton. Owing to threats of a break, the transpacific conference has reduced Cut on the rate on lumber to the Orient from On 1 $12.50 to $10. A year ago this rate ere was $40. The present level compares Lumber with $9 before the war but, consider- ing the increased cost of operations, the $10 rate is lower than that in ef- fect seven years ago. The Java-Pacific line has with- drawn from the. west bound conference so as to be- come a free agent in dealing with foreign competi- tion from Atlantic ports to the East Indies. Threats of a cut in steel rates from New York to the Orient, or from $20 to $15, are worrying Pacific operators. Should this reduction be made, it will be necessary for Pacific ships to meet the new level and. it' is asserted that the present water rate on steel of $11.25. is not giving the. carriers sufficient margin. Pacific operators are hopeful that through import and ex- port rates will shortly be established to the Pittsburgh and other industrial centers east of Chicago so that the Pacific lines may participate in business formerly enjoyed by them. There is no demand for wheat and flour ships. Foreign buyers are not in the Pacific market and