The sun., 1918-02-05
SHIPS AT HAND.
DANIELS SAYS
100000 Troops Will Be i'm
France Soon. He Asserts.
Defending Baker.
L. 5. MAY CUT IMPORTS
Secretary Would Not Say That
100000 Soldiers Would BE.
Across This Year.
L. 5. MAY CUT IMPORTS
Special Despatch TO TuE SuN.

'pec'u DS<pIfCN 10 lut StN
WASHINGTON. Feb. 4.--Despite the
statement OF Secretary Daniels to-day
that the navy is assured Of sufficient
transport facilities to make sure that
there will be 100000 troops in France
early In 1918. the question has arisen
here Can the United States transport
an army Of 100000 men to France in
addition to the burden on shipping IN
supplying the Alles?'' In his statement
TO the Senate Committee on Military AZ
fairs one week ago Secretary Baker
said that 100000 men were ready and
that 100000 more would be available
in France before the end of the present
year.
The statement of Secretary Daniels
was made following the challenge OF
Senator Hitchcock in his Senate speech
TO the forecast Of Secretary Baker. Sec
retary Daniels would not say whether
the outlook OF his department was such
as TO Warrant. the expectation that
100000 more men could be transported
70 France by the end Of the year. The
supply OF ship tonnage Is looked upon
here as the big problem. and unless 1t is
large enough the folly Of sending more
men abroad to fight than can he well
supplied and cared sfor will become
apparent early. II is pointed out.
TIE conflicting statements from Of
scial sources OF the probable completed
tonnage is deplored and some state
mcnt OF exactly what can he expected
and upon which the plans of the War
Department can be based is sought.
The measure under consideration by
the Administration to increase the
available tonnage for the transportation
Of troops to France is q reduction OF
90 per cent. in the volume Of imports.
The United States now has in all ser
vices about four million tons OF ship.
ping. Of which probably e.fourth 10
engaged In bringing IN. goods hereto
fore regarded as essential TO the ma
tionai industrial life.
Neutral Tonnage Sougks.
II negotiations now under way with
neutral countries are concluded success
fully neutral tonnage will be used 20
supplant American ships engaged In the
non -ha "a rdoua trades
In addition to its efforts to obtain
neutral tonnage the Government expects
soon to take over all American sailing
ships and large number OF French
sailing ships, all Of which will be put
in the non-hszardous class. This move
will add some tonnage TO that available
for bringing in !mporN
II a cut in imports is Made the Gov
eTHnlent VIII! SeleCt lot ~ hSt
o. articles which II regard as not es-
sentiai In the prosecution Sf the war.
Imports Of certain materials, including
nitrates and man ganese. must be kept up
to a maximum. The country will need
this year about 100000 tons OF nitrates
from Chile and fully 100000 tons OF
manganese from Brazil.
Assistance From Allies.
Oficials who are working out details
Of the transportation OF troops have not
disclosed to what extent the Allies are
ready to assist with a loan OF tonnage,
but many American soldiers will 90
abroad in allied vessels. This was ar
ranged for in the interallied conference
at Paris and was announced on the re-
turn to the United states Of Col. Edward
NJ. House.
Supplies for the Allies and for the
American army abroad s;ili are pling
UP faster than they can be transported,
and II IL estimated that moro than .
million tons Of cargo are awaiting ship
ment along the Atlantic seaboard. Even
had the countrys production Of mate
rails come up to expectations and had
tho railroads been able to transport 1t
no more goods, officials say. could have
been transported across the seas.
The Shipping Board. realizing the sit
uation, IL redoubling its efforts to speed
up the building Of ships. With the as
sistance Of the Labor Department the
board is creating reserve Of shipyard
labor. which they expect to place in the
yards as fast as It can be absorbed,