The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-05-01
ENEMY VESSELS TAKEN OVER BY
 BILL IN SENATE
German Craft at U. $. and Insular Ports Ordered
 Into Service.

washington, May IA reSOlutlOn empowering the President "to take over the immediate possession and title" Of any, enemy merchant vessels now within the jurisdiction of the United States government was unani- mously adopted by the Senate yester- day after brief debate.
 The announcement from Berlin that 100000 tons of British shipping had been destroyed in February and March was the prime factor in caus- ing the Senators to set aside tempor- arily all other questions and put through the first legal step to getting the seized merchant vessels into the transatlantic trade as fast as possible. Senators Lodge and Knox, speaking on the resolution, hinted that the ad- nlinistration might have hastened the matter somewhat without damage.
 The resolution was drawn up by the Judiciary committee. It authorizes the President to take over any vessel which at the time of coming into such Jurisdiction was owned in whole or in part by any corporation, citizen or subject of any nation with which the United States may be at war;" and through the Shipping Board to stoper- ~~SS' ASSsNoOs sel in any such service of the United States
 The Secretary of the Navy is au- thorized to order surveys of all seizeo ships, with a view to determining their value as taken over, with all equipment, and to keep a record of the report of these surveys for use in future negotiations regarding claims of the owners for compensa- ton after the war.
 The discussion was started by MT. Knox, who in advocacy of his own resolution, which was defeated, said:
 We are informed by this morn ing's papers that the German Chan celIor has within the last few hours notified the Reichstag and the Ger man people that the result of unre- stricted warfare within the past 60 days has been the destruction of 1,6O0,000 tonnage, and that Germany through that method will win in spite of the United States
 Tt is high time that almost an equal amount of tonnage belonging to Germans lying in our ports should be made the target for this attack, and if it be true, as Lloyd George says that the necessity in this war is ships ships and then ships, we are not only guilty of a blunder but of a crime in allowing these bottoms to lie unused. ''
 Senator Smith of Georgia said the ships are now being put in shape and will be on the sea before the week is over.
 Senator Reed suggested that if the Censorship Bill had been passed the Senators who were giving out war se- crets would be charged with aiding the enemy.
 The German steamers Clara Minnig which has been repaired under the direction of the Shipping Board, will be turned over to the Italian authori- ties and immediately be made avail able for shipment of supplies to Italy according to an announcement yester, day by Chairman Denman of the board. On Wednesday it is expected the repairs oh the German ship Pisa wl1i have been completed and the shiI turned over to the French govern ment.
 The repairs on the other German and Austrian ships now being made | by the Shipping Board will be rushed to completion and they should bs l ready for service within the next few 1 weeks.
 Senator Smith of Georgia said the ] ships are now being put in shape an6 will be on the sea before the week i, l over.
 ] Senator Reed suggested that if tht l Censorship Bill had been passed trt l Senators who were giving out war SC 1 crets would be charged with aidinf l the enemy.
 l The German steamer Clara Minnig which has been repaired under tn, direction of the Shipping Board, vii l be turned over to the Italian au 1 thorities and immediately be mad available for shipment of supplies t' l Italy, according to an announcement 1 by Chairman Denman of the board
 On Wednesday it is expected the re pairs on the German ship Pisa vii | have been completed and the shi]
 turned over to the French govern
 ment.
 The repairs on the other German and Austrian ships now being mad
 by the Shipping Board will be rush
 ed to completion and they should b
 ready for service within the mex l few. weeks.
 The Shipping Board anpounce' yesterday it had bought the towinl vessel CO1uTn Dia TOT $6z0,OUU, Wntcl will be used to tow the German ship | now interned in Honolulu to American
 ports. These German ships have
 total tonnage of 25,o00.
 In addition to carrying on the pro
 gram of building wooden ships t
 overcome the menace of the German
 submarine campaign, the Shippin Board will do everything it can t stimulate the building of steel ships While no definite contract has bee let with the Foundation Co, of Ne,
 York for the construction of weede
 ships information was obtained tha
 negotiations had been carried on wit
 that concern by Major Gen. Goethal.
 in charge of the building of the wood
 en fleet, and definite contracts wi
 soon be made.
 The Shipping Board will begin to
 day conferences with members of tn British commission in regard to co
 operation in the handling of interna tional shipping. No plan has bee worked out by the board as to the eS act arrangements that will be mad , to distribute the new ships anon the various Allied nations. Franc
 and Italy probably will have frs choice, as their needs are great, es pecially for coal to continue the op eration of their Tnunition plants.