The U.S. export shipping space situation, as summarized for Chicago’s World Trade Conference by Shipping Agent Edwin A. Kuecker (Kuecker Steamship Co.) last week:
> To Great Britain, practically no commercial space at all for ordinary exports.
> To South Africa, no space except for high-priority essential materials.
> To New Zealand, there has been no commercial space for four months.
> To Caribbean ports, Army & Navy have first call on all space, take most of it.
> To South America, ships are almost full of priority materials, can sometimes take other freight if it stows properly.
> To Australia, some space may be available during coming months.
> To India, no commercial space.
Mr. Kuecker gave some figures to help explain this dismal situation. Minimum supplies and equipment for each U.S. soldier landed abroad weigh 15 tons. A Liberty ship loads about 9,000 tons of cargo, or enough for about 600 men. A round-trip Pacific voyage takes 80-odd days.
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