Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-05-03
SENTIMENT GROWS
I'M FAVOR OF SENDING
TROOPS TO FRANCE
Continued from Page -

fish the rank of field marshal to be
filled later by any general officer who
distinguishes himself.
Ii is not considered likely that any
action along this line will be taken
for some time TO come.
Repair German Vessels.
Washington, May 3-Amerlcan in,
genuity has triumphed over German
plotting. 1t was officially announced
today that missing parts of interned
German merchant vessels. DESTROYED
by their crews, with the declaration
that repairs must be made in Ger.
many" are already being constructed
And 1t also is officially stated that if
the administration so will as it GER
tain to do. that 350.l22 gross tons of
shipping will be added to the bottoms
of the United States. This will in
clude practically all of the II German
+ and Austrian vessels. war bound AT
the outset of the European conflict.
and is to be one of the replies of the
United States to the menace of Ger
man ruthless submarine operations.
Announcement that these vessels
could and would be ready for opera.
tion in five months came today from
the Federal shipping board Chairman
Denman also declared that many of
the smaller vessels will be in commits.
sion in much less time Repair work,
he said, Is being rushed night and
day under the direction of the board s
experts. Two vessels, the Clara Men
liz and the Portonic have been placed
at the disposal of Italy and France
fer one voyage only and manned by
American officers and crews shortly
will start on trans Atlantic trip.
In an official statement issued today
Chairman Denman said.
'The placing Of these vessels at
the disposal of the French and Ital-
ians does not indicate policy as to
the disposition of the informed ships.
They have been loaned to these gov
ernments for one voyage This is not
part Of the program which the ship
ping board is working out for recon
mendaton as to the use of the intern.
ed vessels. 1t is simply a step taken
to meet an immediate need
"All CT the German and Austrian
vessels interned in ports of the Unit
ed States were found to be damaged,
some much more seriously than 9th
ers, Immediately after the removal
OF their crews the shipping board
undertook to repair them. 1t organiz-
ed committee of experts, including
Frank S. Martin, of New York. and
Stephenson Taylor chairman of the
American Bureau Of Shipping, The
committee directed q survey of each
ship. II was found that many import
ant parts of the machinery had been
destroyed or thrown overheard; parts
that connected the power with the pro.
"Draftsmen were engaged to draw
designs of the missing machinery and
repairs are being made in American
factories. Many of the interned ships
j were constructed in British yards
. The board authorizes are furnishing
us with the original plans, thus OK
pediting cur work. Within five months
the most seriously damaged of the
ships will be ready to put to sea The
smaller ships will be prepared for
: commission in a much shorter time
Work will center at present on the
cargo carrying vessels. These arc
needed Immediately to transport food,
coal and munitions to the allies. The
Z great passengers ships, the largest OF
the informed vessels, will be utilized
when ready, by the navy department
as training ships for recruits. II Il
possible that they will be converted
into transports if military expeditions
) are sent to Europe.
Az Ut DItStHl tiuiPpVh tiN i''N'
cannot be economically handled as
: freighters. They require large crews
I. and have very limited cargo capa
I, city Conversion to freighters would
necessitate a complete remodeling OF
the interior construction.
/. In. repairing the interned vessels
the iAhipping board has been particul
ar hot to interfere with or interrupt
I, any tf the other government agencies
3 Instead of calling on naval construc
tors, already busy with carrying on
the great naval program, the board en-
gagged engineers from civil life. Like
wise, the ships were not hauled up il
the navy yards, but are being repair
ed In private yards except in a few
ports where the naval yards were no
otherwise engaged and were mos
available.