The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-06-25
HOLD BACK SHIP
Gambling Against U-BOat Toll
and Higher Shipping Rates.
One Million Tons of Neutral
Shipping in Allies Ports.
DRASTIC ACTION NECESSARY
Nations Needing Provisions
Must Force Ships Into Service.
Italian War Envoy Points Out
How 1t Can Be Done.

Boston, June 25.-Despite the en-
tente allies acute need of ships. arising
from the submarine menace. more
than 100000 tons of neutral ship
ping is swinging idly at anchor in the
harbors o. belligerent nations, accord
ing to a statement made by Augusta
Ciuffelli, former member of the italian
cabinet and member of the Italian
mission, to the Associated Press here
today. They should take immediate
steps to correct the situation, Mr.
! Ciuffelli said. by increasing port dues
to an almost confiscatory point for
prolonged stays and refusing bunker
coal to such ships as declined to ac-
cept cargoes bound thru the danger
zone
Hundreds of Norwegian, Danish.
Dutch. Greek and Spanish ships total
ing more than 100000 tons, said
Mr.. Ciuffelli, ARE lying idle in the
ports of belligerent nations because
of the submarine menace The own
ers of many of these ships are DELHI
Grating holding them in port in order
to reap the extraordinary prohts
which they expect will accrue to them.
In their minds the shipping situation
has reached point where trade rates
will be higher than they are now and
| insurance rates will decrease.
Shall Condition Continue.
should ship owners be permitted
I to continue this practice? Are neut-
/ raj governments doing right in per
hitting their merchant ships to re-
main idle while they are clamoring
! for food and merchandise? Are the
belIigerent nations to remain silent
on this very important question? Are
they to continue their policy permit
| ting the ships to remain idle in their
ports while they send their own ships
to neutral countries with cargoes of
provisions?
Il do not believe that belligerent ma
| tons should respect the socalled rights
of neutrals in this regard No, am
| convinced that they have the right to
pervent the continuation of this prac-
| tice in a lawful manner. This could
| be accomplished either by CURLY or
| dering such ships to quit the terri
toriaI waters of the country wherein
/ they expect to remain or charging
| them such heavy port dues that their
/ stay in harbOr would be made excep-
tionally expensive. Belligerent nations
bunker coal to neutral ships unless
they accepted cargoes bound thru the
| danger zones.
Methods Would. Be just.
These might be considered by some
/ as coercive measures but, in my mind,
! they would be not only just, but nee
! essary- But there are other measures
| which might be adopted and which
| might prove as efficient The gov
1 ernments or individuals of belligerent
nations might be given the power of
/ chartering or purchasing such of these
neutral ships as should be deemed
necessary at prevailing quotations so
they might be operated for the allies.
Putting such vessels to work would
be of great advantage to the allies. The
acquisition of more than 100000
tons at this critical stage would be of
inestimable value
There should be no delay in dis
cussing this problem so that public
opinion IN the allied nations may reach
that point where the government will
find it necessary to agreement on a
prompt and energetic program"