South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-04-14
SHIP QUESTION
BEFORE CABINET
Means of Following SuggeS-
ton of LIOyd-GeOrge Are
Discussed at Meeting.

WASHINGTON. April Means
or quickly putting additional vessels
into the transatlantic trade and
thus fulfilling the prophesy Of Pre-
mier LIoyd-George or Great Britain
Thursday that more ships meant
victory FOR the entente allies. was
the principal subject before Fridays
meeting Of Pres't wilson's cabinet
As "A result, a bill Will be intro
duced IN both houses Of congress
early next week. probably Monday.
substantially increasing the $50 0OO,-
600 appropriation now available for
the shipping board. and giving the
board additional authority so that
the building Of wooden ships and
the acquisition OF other vessels may
be expedited.
Legislation also probably will he
proposed by the administration Civ
ing the shipping board power to for
mally take over the German mer-
chantmen in American ports which
are now in the custody of the treas
ury department. While IL is con-
ceded that the president would have
the right TO take this step. it is un-
derstoOd that a specific act OF con-
gress will be preferred.
At the request OF Sec'y NcAdoO.
the shipping board has detailed ex-
perts 10 thoroughly examine all OF
the German merchant ships, with
the view TO their immediate repair
sd that they can be utilized prompt
ly This examination will be COM
pleted within two weeks.
First among the German ships 20
be put into active service will be
two OF the feet of % lying in Phil
ippine harbOrs The insular bureau
OF the war department has secured
permission from the treasury de-
partmenJ 10 hasten repairs or the
machinery of the two vessels least
damaged by the crews. and it is ex-
pected that within two or three
weeks the ships will be loading
Manila hemp to be rushed TO the
United States To prevent a failure
OF the supply Of binding Irvine for
the farmers for the crop of this
season.
While the exact sum to be re-
quested of congress for the uses of
the shipping board in building up
the American merchant marine has
not been disclosed. il has been est
mated that before the campaign of
wooden ship building has been com
pleted it will have cost approximate
ly 1925. 100000
After the cabinet meeting il was
said that every possible means of
putting additional vessels i'm the
transatlantic trade TO convey sup
plies 10 the entente allies and thus
render the German submarine cam
paign ineffective. will be sought out
and utilized.
II any vessels can be spared from
the Pacific they Will be brought
through the Panama canal and sent
90 work between eastern ports and
Europe Every ship yard in the
United States. not actually building
war vessels will be given contracts
for merchantmen and encourage
ment viii be given for the estab-
lishment OF new yards. and the en-
largement OF old ones
steps are already under way 20
ASCERTAIN the most pressing needs of
Russia, France. England and the
other entente allies and every pos
sible effort VIII be made To- hI them.
While the allied and American fleets
are seeking TO actually destroy the
German submarines more ships will
Ice supplied 20 take the places of
those sunk
Within few days definite word
as Co how many vessels now i'm coast
wise and great lakes trade can he
spared 20 6e sent Co Europe will be
in the hands OF the council of ma
tiou3l defense W J. Connors of
Buffalo. who controls So ships on