Evening journal., 1918-02-05
MAY cut InFORIS
TO Save SHIPS
Government Considering
Plan 10 Withdraw All Ton
mage From Foreign Trade
WOULD RELY
ON NEUTRALS


solutely essential to the conduct Of the
war and for the diversion Of 100000 I.
tons Of shipping from non-hazardous
zones Of travel 90 the Transatlantic /
service TO transport troops and supplies
10 France are under consideration by T
the Government. Estimates have been
made that the shipping under cont oil .
Of the United states for overseas SER
vice could be increased TO approx +
mately 4,OOOOOO tons by such a steps
The general scheme Is 20 take the
100000 tons from coastwise, South
American, and Pacific trade routes. As
far as pOss bic these vessels would be
replaced by the Dutch ships which
have been held up In Atlantic suapo' ts'
French sailing vessels. and other ship
ping not available for traffic through
the danger zone.
Il is unde stood that the details Of
plan have been taken up by the ship
ipng Boad. the War Trade Board,
which, under the Trading with the
Enemy act. has large measure Of CON
troll over imports. and other Govern
ment agencies.
II has been specified, It is said that
there can be no safe curiailmcnt OF
nitrates. magancse ores, and chrome
ores. necessary for war production
VIII en- are obtained in large quantities
from South American contries. On the
other hand. some are of tie opinion
that the imports OF wool can be held
in check without hampering the Gov
ernment's war work There has been
no official statement concerning the
character Of 'luxuries,' the. import Of
which would be rest icted by the pro-
grsm under contemplation.
By the adoption Of this plan, almost
as drastic IN its effect as the Garfield
closing order, it Is believed by IFS pro-
ponents. the congestion OF supplies for
Europe at the Atlantic seapolts could
be cleared up and many thousands Of
troops moved without Ions delays be-
Ing encountered.
one statement made yesterday was
that there was now an accumulation OF
appI oximately 100000 tons OF ammuni-
tion and other supplies for Europe at
Atlantic ports which must be- moved
before the additional output Of war fac
tories could be sent 90 the terminals
Production, It has been pointed out
has reached a point where 10 has over
stopped the shipping capacity, and I'M
Ga 81 .cs ~ ght be ~ ced Go discontinue
temporarily. not because of lack of
fuel. but because of the inability 10
move the tremendous output caused by
the efforts put forth by the nation since
the United states entered the war.
The program under discussion when
the substitution OF Dutch tonnage and
French sailing vessels Is taken into con-
sideration would remove about 10000
tons OF shipping from the nonhazard0us
routes With this readiustcd fleet. it is
felt that the United states would obtain
an imports considered essential 90 the
conduct Of the war and still leave some
surplus tonnage for other commodities.
It is agreed. however. that the restric-
ton Of some OF the imports would Doe
severe.
The bad weather conditions of the
last six weeks and the check they have
placed upon the shipbuilding program
Of the United states are said 10 be
among the factors which brought about
consideration Of the import curtsiiment
serene In "A number Of the shipyards,
IL is said blizzard and zero weather has
made rapid construction work on but
imposs Bile. The men have been forced
10 labor under conditions which have
driven many 20 cut their workng days
short. and in some instance, the heavy
snow vsto ms have forced an entire sus-
pension OF work for extended periods.
The prospect Of speeding up new sh'p
construction, and Of completing vessels
now partly constructed on the ways
has become somewhat brighter within
the last week. however. and with the
diversion Of 100000 tons from the non
hazardous trade shipping Boaid oX-
perts feel that the situation can be
handled. troops moved and supplied
and the allied needs met.
IL is predicted that, with the i.OO0OW
ions at the starting point. the tonnaa.
for overseas service can be increased
gradually until IL has reached N.5mO0
tons or more by the end of the year
This estimate is made without taking
into account the sinkings which may
be scored by German submarines.
BY far the larger part of the new ton
mage however, will come alone toward
tbs end OF the summer and In the fall
md the Governments drive at present
will be In the direction OF getting mer
and supplies 20 France at once 20 h'
ready for the spring and summer cam
paisns.
No estimate has been made by ship
ping Board officials as 10 their abllit,
io provide tonnage 90 transport 1000.
but the diversion of the i000.W0 ton.
Of shipping from the safe routes, j
adopted. will be part Of The effort q
carry out the program
In ihe campaign 10 speed up tic worl
at the shipyards, and IL possible pm
on two or thre shifts as soon as th
weather moderates. 80 Is probable tha
other industries not so essential TO tn
war program WIN be asked to con
tribute heavily in skilled workmen. Tn
appeal will be made to the patriotism
OF the leaders Of these industries &
list the men who would be valuable &
the shipping program and lend then
for the period Of the war.
The plan p opposed Of moving IN
100000 tons Of shipping from the non
hazardous trade has been made possibl
by the recent acquisition. Of Dutch an
other neutral tonnage III ough agree
m-nts with neutral Governments IN
United States, however, agreed not Z
send these ships through the DANCE
zone.