New Britain herald., 1917-06-25
WOULD FORCE SHIPS
 TO GARRY CARGOES
Member of Italian Mission Con-
 denlns Greed of Neutrals VESSELS bLE AT ANCHOR

Aususto CiunelM Convinced snip Own
 ers should Bear ooumtry's Burdens
 and Not Depend Entirely on Oar
 raess Of Beahgerent Nations.
 Boston. Juno 3S.-Despite the En- tente allies acute need of ships, aris- ing from the submarine menace, more than 1.0oo.o tons Of neutral shipping iS swinging idly at anchor in the harbors of belligerent nations, ac- cording to Q statement made by Au- gusto Ciuffelli. former member of the Italian cabinet and member of the Italian mission, to the Associated Press here today.
 Tho statement was made by Mir. Ciu6elli regarding advisability of putting into execution other plans. besides Americas titanic ship build- ing program. in combating the sub- marine.
 That the Entente allies are power less to utilize this class of neutral tonnage was characterized as deplpr- able by MT. Ciuffelli.. Greed, he said, was the moving factor with many of the ship owners. The allies should take Immediate steps to correct the situation. he said, by increasing port duties to an almost confiscatory point for prolonged stays and refusing bunker coal to such ships as declined to accept cargoes and bound through the danger zones
 Inspired by Greed.
 ssg $ ., # H 5g t s " sEg sh
 Hundreds of Norwegian. Danish. Dutch, Greek and Spanish ships to- talling more than 1,OO0.0O0 tons" he said, .are lying idle In the ports of the belligerent nations because of the submarine menace. The owners of many of these ships are deliberate holding them in port in order to reap the extraordinary profits which they expect will accrue, when in peace times, the shipping industry has reached a point where trade rates will be higher than they are now.
 .'The damage to the cause of the allies caused by these idle ships can not be computed. The money dam- ages run far into the millions, since tho inaction of this tonnage 2 con- tributes toward Q constant tncreascss in ocean freight and insurance. Every hour that these ships continue to re- main idle prolongs the war SO much more.
 'Should ship owners be permitted to continue this practice? Are ncu- tral governments doing right in per mittiag their merchant ships to re- main idle while they are clamo1ins for food and merchandise? Are the belligerent nations to remain silent on this very important question? Are they to continue their policy of per hitting these ships to remain idle in their harbors while they send tkeir own ships to neutral countries witt cargoes of provisions?
 1T do not believe that belligerent nations should respect the so-called rights of neutrals in this regard No, I am convinced that they have the right to prevent the continuation oi this practice in lawful manner This could be accomplished either by curtly ordering such ships to quit the territorial waters of the country wherein they expected to remain ol charging them such heavy port du- ties that their stay in harbor would be made exceptionally. expensive. Bel. ligerent nations could also in my opin- ion, refuse bunker coal to neutral ships unless they accepted cargoes bound through the danger zones. Just, Not Ooerctve.
 s"These might be considered by some as coercive matters. but in my mind they would not be only just, but nee. essary. But there are other meas. ures which might be adopted and which might prove as efficient. The governments, corporations or individ- uals of belligerent nations might be given the power of chartering or purchasing such of these neutral ships as should be deemed necessary at pre- vailing quotations in order that they might be operated for the benefit o1 the allies as against the interest o1 private owners. g
 Tt is generally known that many l neutral ship owners do not allow theil ships to trade because. in case of the loss of their ships. the value of in. surance. even taking into considera. ton the extraordinary freight rates will not compensate them entirely fol their losses. But this cannot be avoid ed. The government or other char terer might protect the neutral shiI owner by contracting to make goot l the difference in case of loss by sub 1 lo{ t,