The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1918-12-27

2,500,0OO tons of shipping de-
znanded Of Germany by the Allies
to carry out the provisioning OF
that country, mentioned in the
armistice, the German author
tiles will be able to collect only
100000 tons, according to Ger
man a6vices by way of Geneva.
Paris, Dec 24.-Herbert c. Hoover,
American food administrator, will
son come into possession of million
tons Of German shipping which will
be employed in revictualing devastt-
ed portions of France, Serbia, Bel
gium: and Rumania, now destitute of
food. These ships were wrung from
the Germans by the armistice COM
1nissioners without pledging that Ger
many would be supplied with food.
At present no supplies will be sent
to Germany, the first relief work OF
the Allies being planned in neutral
countries. Meanwhile it is believed
that the Germans can subsist on food
stored for the use of their army and
boarded by peasants.
A thorough investigation of the
food resources of the Central powers
is being made, and only after the
needs of the Entente nations and
neutrals are met will the supplies be
diverted to enemy powers, should
such action be found imperative.
Can Send 10000 Month
The American authorities are press
ing for control of German passenger
ships tied up in Hamburg and other
ports, so that they may be used in
taking home American troops.
The total capacity of all passenger
ships at present at the disposal of
the American government will per-
init the return home: Of about: 100000
II
senger ships can be secured it is
estimated that this number can be
Increased to 100000 men monthly.
=" The American officials here attach
the greatest Importance to the need
OF supplying merchant tonnage to in
dustries in the United States. It is
understood that the British insurance
rate will be reduceu' soon approx
mately to Is per cent, as stimulus
to British industries.
A similar step is being urged with
regard to American insurance rates.
So sharply has the army's need for
ships been cut that it is now esti-
mated General Pershing can get
along with 100000 tons during Janu-
ary and February and probably as
low as 100000 tons in March. This
will be possible, it was explained to-
day, because the signing of the armis-
tice reduced the army virtually to a
garrison basis, thus reducing wastage
and consumption of great quantities
of war material.
Save Much Equipment.
The successful operation Of Amer
ican salvage plants also will con-
tribute, from the Argonne region
alone, more than 1000 carloads of
American equipment which was dis
carded when the men went into the
fight. This is being brought into
salvage plants for renovation.
The reason that control of German
passenger ships at Hamburg and 9th
thot oil fhoco
ships have small cargo-carrying ca
pacity, the plan being to substitute
purely freight ships with equal cargo
capacity to carry on civilian relief.
The war department has already re-
leased 100000 tons of shipping to be
used to carry food to Austria.
I'hese ships are now on their waS
to the sAdriatic. Italy is holding
about SOC, 900 tons of passenger ships
according to official figures gathered
here: iz...,g S.. u 4.
& It is expected that some plan will
be worked out to get these in opera
ton: at a conference Of representa-
Stives Eof The French: British, Ameri-
can and Italian governments.
FOES DEAD N NUMBER ..3.5
:.s..;s;. t EARLY 1000, 900
3.S s & New York, Dec, 25.--When the total
German causalties are published, the
number of dead will be about 2,0OO,-.
900, according to the Cologne Gazette
OF november IS. q copy Of which has
been received here. Up. to October