Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1917-12-17
CIVILIAN CREWS
CREATE DANGERS.
Army Transport Sherman Tied
Up When Men Demand
More Money.
LEGISLATION IS NOW SOUGHT
Quartermaster General Sharpe
Would Have Military Laws
Applicable to All.

WASHINGTON. nec. 16.--Inme
diate legislation to bring the crews or
/ transports, mine layers and other
army vessels into the military ser7-
ice is urgently recommended by Quar-
termaster General sharpe in his an
nual report. made public tonight
| Continual difficulties with civilian
crews are described, with the conclu-
/ sion that grave danger can be avertel
only by making officers and men sub
ject TO military discipline.
| The report adds a new element to
the controversy over the manning OF
ships carrying troops and supplies to
Europe. proposal to have All
American overseas merchant craft
manned by naval reserves has been re-
jected by the shipping board. which
recently announced that the navy
! would operate troopships and vessels
carrying soley military supplies. but
that all others would retain their mer-
chant crews.
Another Plan May Result.
General Sharpe probably will appear
this week as witness in the senate
military committee investigation of
army war preparations, and his testi-
mony with its proposals of still an
other plan may result in a general
airing OF the subject before the COM
mittee. Ever since the war in Europe
created an abnormal demand for sea-
men, Colonel Sharpe's report says,
there has been trouble. The chief diff
ficulties encountered for several years
was with the constant changing of
crews as men were drawn away by Of
fers of higher pay in the merchant
service, interfering with the speed and
precision OF such important duties as
harbor mining and troop movements.
The army transport Sherman was tied
up for some time in March, 1917,
when under orders for Honolulu with
military building materials by a de-
mand for higher pay by the crew.
That increase had 70 be granted, ''
says the report, before the ship could
sail"
Since the United States entered the
| war" il continues, "the needs for I,
firm control over transport crews has
increased, difficulties with certain
members OF crews arising at almost
every sailing of an army transport
and the same conditions multiplying
on the harbor boats, mine planters
ana fdDlt y.
In April Of this year. with war al
hand. the crew OF the army transport
Thomas refused to sail without an in
crease In pay while at Newport, r. l..
the army vessel crews were about 10
resign TO get better pay in the naval
reserve.
With the rate OF wages fixed by
law" the report SAYS, "the depart
ment has found Itself seriously en-
barrassed and handicapped in under
taking To accede 10 the demands for
increases. and in several instances an
adjustment TO meet the requirements
of the crew has only resulted ia a
similar request from the same crew n
"a very short period. so that the depart
ment has been placed a. the mercy OF
it's employees
The generals recommendations fol
low:
His Recommendations.
"Firs;-That the crews shall be o
, the best type OF American citizens
: available, who are experienced in th'
work OF maintenance and operation
OF vessels of this service.
"Secpnd-That the tenure ot serV
,ces of such employees shall be of suci
, duration that they can not he terihi
mated at the will of the omploye.
, "Third-That all members OF tn
crew shall be subject TO military dis
/ ciplne, thus enabling n prompt af'
strict compliance with such orders a
! may be given.
NO plan other than an enliste'
A service can possibly he suggested III
der which crews OF vessels OF tn
o army transport service, the min
planters and the harbor boats can b
' controlled, with fixed rates OF pay i
=, different grades and u is urgenu
recommended that in view of the un
, usual conditions now existing thai
. law be enacted along the lines here
,Ufore proposed for the commission
: ing. warranting and enlisting OF IN
crews Of the entire service"
A The report includes details nf IN
:, war transport service and 1blishe
1, the names of chartered Or com
- mandeered vessels in the transpoT
~ service on June 80. Under the voluI
o tary censorship rules, the press is Tor
bidden TO carry the names OF thes
vessels. 1t also is shown that a cor
ference between war department, shiI
ping board and steamship official
charter rates were fixed at Sl2 pc
registered gross ton per montn II
passenger craft taken over ana II
for freight ships