The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-11-26
THREE TROOPSHIPS
ON WAY WITH 6,996


cilities she furnished to transport the
troops to France and that some Of her
largest transports will help in bringing
back the army
Germany has a largo feet Of mer-
chantmen tied up in her ports and the
Allies and tho United States are con-
sidering plans for their use. This fleet
includes the Imperator, one OF the
largest vessels afloat. Under clause 26
OF the armistice those ships cannot
leave port without the consent OF the
Allies, as this clause continues the
blockade conditions unchanged and
makes all German merchantmen found
on the seas liable to capture.
While Mr.. Baker declined to-day to
make definite statement, he Indicated
that negotiations might be opened very
soon by which some OF these ships
would be available for troop carrying
purposes and that 1t was possible that
on their return voyage they might
carry food.
Big Cunarders Assured.
Regarding the British tonnage. Mr..
Baker explained to-day that Great
Britain now has a problem on her
hands Of getting her Canadian. Aus
tralian and New Zealand troops back
home, and that It would be unfair to
expect her to continue to furnish the
same facilities for the return of Amer
lean troops. In getting the army to
France Great Britain carried 90 per
cent. How much British tonnage will
be available Mr.. Baker does not know
yet. but he said some OF her largest
transports like the Mauretania and the
Aquitania would be in the service.
The United States will pay Great
Britain for this service as she did for
carrying the troops to France, but the
exact amount has not yet been deter
mined. Under agreement made with
Lord Reading Mr.. Baker said 1t was
laid down that In the transportation OF
both cargoes and troops for each other
neither Government would reap any
profit
I'VE intend to use all the shipping
facilities we can lay our hands on,
said Mr.. Baker. ito bring the men
| back. This will include some Italian
and French ships and probably some
Of the returning navy ships We are
also making plans to offer some of orn
own freight ships for troop carrying
purposes"
Casuals Only to Como First.
There need be no expectation that
any of the regular divisions in Franco
| will embark for this country in the
next few weeks. Mr.. Baker said the
only men to embark for this country
will be the casuals made up OF classes
b and c men. who will be organized
into companies as such for the return
home. But the fighting men who have
been at the front and in the camps IN
France will not be coming probably
for a month or more
The plan OF the War Department in
relation to the order in which the SOL
| diers are to be brought back Is strongly
disapproved Iby. the Military commit
tees OF Congress. At first It was
planned that the troops be, brought
home in the order in which they were
I, despatched to France 1t is understood
| now that It was Gen. Pershing who
decided that a selectve system would
be put into eject
As q result some OF the first troops
which went to France probably will be
the last TO return. The military rea-
son for this Is that these men are OF
more service to Gen. Pershing because
they are better trained and harder
troops.
An example OF the way the system
will work Is furnished In the two New
England divisions. One OF them. the
Twenty sixth, went to France very
early and has been engaged in prac-
tically all the fighting in which Ameri-
can soldiers have taken part The
other. the National Army division
reached France comparatively recently
and has seen no actual fighting. The
Seventy-sixth Division is to be re-
turned to the United States almost al
once.