Freight traffic, Mr. Polley reported, is now higher than at any time since 1936 with roads reporting freight traffic ten per cent. higher than this time a year ago and 18 per cent. in excess of 1937 levels, Since the European war broke out, Mr. Polley reported, traffic jumped 25% per cent. with employment in the industry rising to 1,055,164, the highest since November, 1937, and 80,000 above October, 1938—United Press, Japanese Overseas Shipping Gains Kobe, Jan. 2.
Japanese shipping began to benefit from the European conflict only after the middle of November, a survey by the Kobe Shipping Exchange showed today.
On Dec, 15, the Exchange reported, 1,229,000 tons, deadweight, of Japanese shipping were plying the seas, Gains began to be recorded from Nov. 15 to Dec. 15 when Japanese vessels on overseas routes increased by 230,000 tons, the Exchange said. A portion of this growth, the survey declared, was seasonal although Japan had been able to place more ships on overseas routes by launching new vessels, repairing old ships and because of the expiration of character contracts which had kept ships in the coastal service.
The outbreak of the war in Europe brought no immediate increases in Japanese tonnage abroad, although growth in the tonnage was noted from the period shortly before the hostilities began and Oct. 10. From the middle of October to mid-November there was no abnormal activity in spite of the withdrawal of large numbers of German and British ships from the sea routes of the world, the survey stated—Domei,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.