BRITAIN CHALLENGED

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 50, Issue 140, 26 March 1930, Page 6

BRITAIN CHALLENGED

OCEAN TRADE SUPREMACY. EFFECT OF GERMAN MERGER. (United Press Association—Copyright.) LONDON, March 24. A formidable challenge to British supremacy is foreseen as a result of the German shipping merger. While the companies were in .rivalry there was much overlapping and duplication. They are presenting a united front to foreign competition. Experts point out the opportuneness of the agreement which relieved the HamburgAmerica Line of the necessity of building costly rivals to the Bremen, Europa and Columbus, which will assume a weekly service between Germany and New York, in addition to a seven-day Atlantic trip being instituted with four 21,000-ton steamers—the Hamburg, Ballin, New York and Deutschland—all of which are undergoing extensive alterations, including new turbines and high pressure boilers that will double engine power and increase the speed from 16 to 20 knots. Large economies are also being effected on every world route. Meanwhile there is likely to be no serious British challenge for recapture of the Atlantic record until the completion of the giant Cunarder, now definitely planned for at least two years hence.