The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-04-12


 Shipping Board, the Department of Agriculture, and the Department of Labor are joining hands in the effort. Many of the problems were discussed at a. long session of the Cabinet yes ferday.
 { The shipping question is commonly regarded by high officials of the Ad- rainistration as perhaps the flrst Tn importance of all of the pro]ects which must be. expedited, and prom inent among the factors involved IS the use to be made of the German shipping now lying in American ports. A formal decision as to the d1sposl- tion of. the German vessels is expected daily. In the meantime agents of the Treasury Department and the snip ping Board are making a thorough Inspection of the ships in order to de- termine the nature and extent of the necessary repairs, and estimates on the time which the repairs will re- quire will be submitted as soon as the investigation has proceeded sufflclent- ly It is understood that the govern ment agents are already conferr1ng with shipbuilding concerns on the matter.
 While it is understood that all Ger man merchant ships now lying in Am erican ports will be utilized as car riers to defeat the German submarine campaign as soon as they can be put in shape From what can be learned of the Administrations plans in this regard, the government will confls- cate, ya matter of course, without compensation all shipping owned by the German government or owned by corporations which have a govern mental character The vessels which belong to individuals or firms, it is understood, will be impressed into service, but their German owners probably will be reimbursed after the war. The question as to what is to < De done with the Austrian vessels now in the hands of the Federal authori- ties probably will not be determined until it becomes evident whether Aus tria will, join in making war on the United States
 May Buy Ships in Cuban Ports
 A plan is also being considered to offer to purchase from the Cuban government the three German ships which are now being held in. Cuban
 
 Brazil decides to enter the war sim liar agreement with her may be reached. Neither government, it is understood, has yet been approached on the subject.
 While the work of putting these German ships in shape for active ser vice is being done. the Shipping Board, whose plans for building l. 900 wooden freighters of from 5000 to s,60D tons have now been approved by the President, is rapidly putting it's program into effect, Contracts have been let. and plans for standard izaing parts have been completed. The President is considering asking Major Gen George W. Goethals to take gen eral charge Of the work of building these vessels Although Gen. Goeth- als has had no specific training as a shipbuilder, it is believed that his ability as an organizer would be of Tremendous value to the nation in the rapid of these shipping plans
 Need Merchant Sailors s One of the problems yet to be solv- ed in constructing a. merchant marine capable of, conquering the German campaign to isolate England is that of furnishing crews to man the vessels. Officials, however, believe that the International Seamen's Union can be depended on to meet the demand, and that it's members from all of the En- tei1te nations, as well as from the Uni- ted States, win rally Loyalty to man the new ships Although it is Fealized that the United States alone cannot immediately furnish enough trained sailors, it Is believed that cooperation between the United States and the allied powers will take care of the need. fThe experience of the shipping companies now engaged in running the submarine blockade has demon strated the readiness of seamen to volunteer for the work
 There is no disposition on the part of the Administration officials in charge of the shipping program to minimize the seriousness of the Ger man menace to shipping. It is req 1ized that German submarines are now sinking more freighters than are being built, and that submarine crews are constantly growing in effective ness as they gain experience. They are confident, however, that with the German steamers some of which porbab1y will be in service in two months as a beginning and the devel- opment of the new wooden merchant marine, the. first probably will be turned out by October, the United States can keep the situation we'll in hand.
 While the present view of the Ad- ministration seems to favor the idea of reimbursing the owners of the pri- vately owned German vessels now in American hands, this question has not been definitely settled, and probably will not be until further investigation into their legal status has been made. This investigation will in no way in ferfere with their immediate use, however. It is known that several iH- f1uential members of the Cabinet, as well as leading members of Congress, are>in favor of abrogating all existing treaties with Germany and confisca- fling these ships outright, on the eround that Germany has already tofded the treaties of 1799 and 1928. which. stand in the way of confisca- ton. by her own acts in violation of them.
 May Exempt Real Producers
 One ofsthe matters discussed by the Cabinet today was the question of ex- emption from military service of young men employed in vital indus tries. It has been definitely decided that all youths of military age who