Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-05-01
Seized German Ships Turn.
ed Over to France and
Italy For Use.
OTHERS MAY BE
LOANED AS NEEDED
Action Is Forerunner Of Cooperation
Between America and European Al
Iies-British Expert Declares War
Is Now Race Between Submarine
Il Destruction and United States Abil-
ity to Replace Lost Tonnage.

WASHINGTON, May 1.-The Hamburg
American liners Portonia and Clara
Mennig at New York have been turned
over by the American government for
use tothe entente allies. One ship will
go to France and the other to Italy.
The United States has already placed
Ia considerable amount of ship tonnage
at the disposal Of the entente allies.
Lord Eustace Percy, ship expert with
the British mission, said today that
the government had supplied certain
vessels to be used according to the
allies needs but refused to Indicate
what they were or If they were the
seized German ships.
Forerunner Of Cooperation.
Lord Percy's announcement was the
first intimation that tho shipping con-
ferences had actually resulted in any
agreement. It was taken as q fore
runner Of q Wide cooperation in (which
the tonnage of this country will be
pooled with that Of the allies to de-
Lord Percy said the commission had
supplied the United States government
with statistics, showing the destruction
by the U-boats, the needs OF the allies,
the present rate OF construction abroad
and the standardized building plans.
The American shipping board he. said,
had shown the heartiest cooperation.
Race With Submarines,
i THE shipping ISSUE" said Lord
Percy. dominates everything else and
is very grave indeed. Both the British
and American construction can not
compete with the present rate Of de-
struction. The war has resolved itself
into race between the efficiency Of
the British and American ship yards
and the German submarines. The ball
ancing factor. in the struggle Is the
tonnage the United States can supply.
Only in case 1t is large can the present
military service and food supply be
continued. This is the most vital prob
lem.
Up TO America.
THE United States is one of the
few countries that Is absolutely self
sufficient In shipbuilding. You have
here tha men, the material, the inven-
tiveness. France, Italy and Japan also
are building somewhat but, unlike this
country, must use ships to build ships
thru need Of importing raw materials.
The problem is not only matter
of tonnage, but equally matter Of
how fast that tonnage is used. Each
of the allied nations has instituted a
national shipping board, while over
them all is the general shipping board,
sitting in London, which attempts to
harmonic the demands on shipping"
Lord Percy declared the present rate
Of British construction Of ships could
not keep pace with the present rate OF
destruction by submarines THE bal
ancing figure In the worlds struggle"
said Lord Percy, "is the homage the
United States can supply"
Liverpool 10 Grateful.
Resolutions adopted at q mass meet
ing called by the lord mayor Of Liver
pool expressing gratifcation for the
great material assistance which the
United States Of America brings to
the common cause" and for the moral
support which it gives to the allies
were received today at the state de-
.partment from Ambassado dor Page at
tT,ondon 4t..4si