The Dillon herald. [volume] (Dillon, S.C.) 1894-????, 1918-11-21
10 BRING BACK
100000 4 MONTH
Says After the Convalescents Will BE
Transported Large Continsents
Of Varions Branches of
the Ser vice.

Hurley, chairman of the United States
Shipping Board announced hire to-
night on the eve of his departure for
Europe that the government intends
to return to this counry speedily a
large par of the American Expedi-
tionary Forces. The purpose OF r.
Hurley's trip to Europe is to arrange
the details for their transportation.
To Offset the loss Of transport ton
mage through the withdrawal of Brit
ish trips hitherto engaged in carry
ing American soldiers overseas. Mr..
Hurley hopes to utilize twenty-five or
thirty German and Austrian liners,
with accommodation for 1000 men
each. In compensation for the loan
of these vessels. he said, food would
be sent to the people OF Central Eu-
rope on their return voyage.
3OO,OOO Per Month.
Mr.. Hurley said the shipping board
would be abl to bring troops back
at the rate of 100000 a month, "if
the War Department wants thm re-
turnd as fast as that" H would meet
Gen. Pershing at American field head
tails of their home coming.
While he ill 60 abroad with Her
bert Hoover, federal food administra-
tor, to cooperate in arrangements for
the shipment and distribution Of food
stuifs to the regions libera:ed under
the armistice t, rms and in a degie,
later to be determined to Germany
and Austria. Mr.. Hurley said his mis-
. sion had primarily 10 do with "ge-
ting the boys back home"
COnvalescentS FRS.
Convalescent wounded, including &
many who would have returned to the
battle front had the war continued
would be the first troops brought out
of France. he said. The would be
followed b units of various branches
of the service, following plans already
partly worked out by Secretary Baker
and the general staff.
On future developments in t he
ternal affairs of Germany and Aus,
tria and their relations with the AL
lies, the shipping official, added, to-
gether with the trend OF European
eveuts in general, would depend the
number Of troops to be brought to
this country within the next few
months, but he was preparing, n
stated, to transport large contingents
Tonnage In Sight.
There are siXty-seven transports
flying the American flag, Mr.. Huryey
said, and it is hoped that these. with
German and Austrian liners which he
anticipates using temporarily, will
suffice to bring American soldiers
as rapidly as the military authori.
ties desire. If their capacity proves in
adequate, he added, tn shipping board
has 125 double deck cargo vessels
some of which can be transformed foI
transport work. He is reluctant, how
ever, to withdraw these from freight
services except in an emergency.
Central Powers Tonnage.
Mr.. Hurley said he would take ur
with the Allied maritime transport
council in London, which would in
furn cOnfr with the German and Aus
trian maritime authorities, the ques-
tion of utilizing some of the idle ton
mage of the Central Powers. Thre wre
fifteen liners at HapsDurg and Bre-
men, he stated, and ten or fifteen in
Austrian ports. which could carry in
the, aggregate 100000 on each voy-
age to American ports, returning with
food or other necessary cargoes.
British transports, he stated. which
have carried GO per cent of the Amer
lean troops bound overseas since the
summer, will be utilized 20 convey
English Dominion and Colonial troops
back to their home countries.