New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-10-20
u. S. Transfers 70
Ships to France for
Rushing Supplies
10000 Tons Given Over
Without Hampering
Army Transport
fStan CcTrspondencel


I WASHINGTON, Oct. 1s.--Without
holding back a single American soldier
or a single ton OF freight for the Amer
lean army in France, the Shipping
Board was able to-day to divert twenty
new steamships to the French service.
! The French commission is delighted,
and its members declared that this was
the happiest day they have known for
many weeks. Ten Of the ships are prac-
tically on their way now TO the big job
Of moving across the Atlantic the J.
500 900 tons Of French supplies and mu-
nitions piled up at Atlantic ports.
All the ships that now go TO rein
force the French Atlantic transport
feet are just of the ways at various
Great Lakes shipbuilding yards. and
their appearance in open waters calls
attention to what an overlooked re-
. source the United States has in the yards
that have been building steel ships for
the lakes trade for years, but are quite
competent to build for the ocean trade.
Five Of the twenty boats were building
for French account and fifteen for the
Cunard Steamship Company when they
were commandeered.
One of the first things the Shipping
Board did when it took all ships build
ing in August was to speed up construc-
ton on the Great Lakes, so that every
vessel possible could be completed and
brought to ocean waters before naviga-
! ton closed on the lakes. The fruit OF
this foresight is found in its ability
now to meet in part the desperate
transport needs Of the French.
Take Coal to Canada
All except one Of the feet now char
tered to the French run from $500 to
1920 tons dead weigh. and can pass
through the Welland Canal with ease.
The largest, a vessel of 5000 tons, was
cut in two, moved through the canal to
Montreal in sections and there put to-
gether again. She is now ready for sea.
The other boats Of the first ten are
loading or will, load coal at lake ports,
which they will discharge at Canadian
ports as they move toward the sea, and
will there pick up some Canadian cargo
for New York or other American ports.
The tonnage TINS turned over to
France on trip or monthly charter at
the minimum rate will amount to be-.
tween 10000 and $4,000 tons. The
ships will have American crews. This
tonnage will not begin to meet French
requirements, but il is welcome
starter and there will be more coming
soon.
In expression Of their gratitude for
this much needed help the French com
mission surprised Chairman Hurley by
Offering TO turn over TO the Shipping
Board 100000 tons Of French sailing
ships now engaged in the South Ameri-
can, South African and other trades
remote from the submarine zone,
whittier the French dispatched them
when they saw that the submarines
had about destroyed the British sail
ing feet.
This offer led to trade. The Ship
PINK DOdlu VIII Jake inc rf0Cn WIND
TANNERS and put them into the nitrate
trade 20 Chile, the perro-manganesc
trade 10 Brazil, the chrome ore trade
20 New California, and wherever they
can serve American interests and re
lieve steamships. This released steam
shipping will be chartered TO France
at the rate of about two tons Of steam
for four tons of sail which means
that in the near future tho board. by
withdrawing American steamships from
the cosstwise trade between the Amer
icas. will be able TO give France 10000
TO 100000 tons more of shipping.
Failure Charge Refuted
Only through its absolute control of
all American shipping, building or
afoat, was IL possible for the Ship
ping Board TO meet French necessities
so successfully. II can move any unit
or part OF the entire American mer-
chant feet, as the eXigencies Of war
require, just as a general in battle
may send regiments here. divisions
there, corps elsewhere. according to
need. This is real war efficiency.
That more than 10000 tons can be
spared to the French now and another
4 50,0 900 tons little later on is complete
that France and Britain had made UP
their mind, that America had failed
them in their hour Of shipping need.
On the contrary. America is not only
meeting her own wants in the matter
Of transportation, but even now is help
ing the Allies.
We are not, 10 be sure. giving the
Allies anything like the volume OF ship
ping they need. but they are getting
now both soldiers and shipping in some
measure. which they doubtless consider
better than shipping in abundance and
no American army.
The Shipping Board acted on it's own
initiative In meeting the French needs
in some part. which shows that al least
one governmental body charged with
large war powers exercises them with
out taking its troubles to the Prcsl-
dent