Evening star., 1918-11-10
j. S. SOON T0LEAD
IN 1SEAPALACES'
Slipping Board, Plans for
Great Fleet of Mari
time Ships.

With the Levfathan, formerly the
Vaterland, and several other large ships
seized from Germany as a nucleus.
the United States Shipping Board ex-
poets to enter into active competition
in the sea passenger carrying serv-
ice. The war emergency program
having reached fruition. it is planned
to carry forward a long
peace necessity program. according
to Chairman Hurley.
It is explained that the shipping
board is not a temporary war bu-
reau, but a permanent institution
created for the purpose of restoring
the American flag to the seas. So
far: however. it has confined its ef-
absolutely essential to the winning
Of the war. No ocean 'greyhounds"
or floating palaces" have been
TO have attempted the construc-
/ the Aquftania and other such sea
would have been to defeat
the war purposes of the board. Con-
sequently no ships carrying In ex-
cAss Of 1900 tons were built. But
these are substantial, comfortable
man Hurley said
Plans for After-war Tourists.
It II not intended by the Shipping
Board to make q mad plunge, but 1t
is stated that If Mr.. Hurley and Di-
rector General Schwab of the Emer-
gency Fleet Corporation have their
way the American merchant marine
will be represented in its passenger
carrying trade by some of the larg-
est vessels af1oat. The after-war tour
list trade alone will almost justify the
creation Of an immense transatlantic
misunderstanding fleet, it was said.
(. But It is hardly likely THAT the tour
ist@ business will be encouraged by
either America or the allies until
France and Belgium are reconstruct
cd, or at least until much of the In
jury done those countries by Germany
has been repaired. Provision also
soldiers. All of the vessels afioat will
be needed for some time after peace
is declared to carry reconstruction
material to France, Belbium. Serbia.
Italy and other countries physically
injured by the war. or to take Amer
soldiers back to their homes.
Contemplate Big Program.
Al LILO AASC1 liz eA0 oAbpPiu6 DOeA ~
expects to employ much of it's re-
sources in the construction Of pas
senger ships. OF course the work of
building cargo vessels will not be
neglected. But it is believed that
with the release of soldiers and war
workers for peace enterprises the
board will be able to add materially
to its man power and hence turn out
q great many more ships.
When the plan for building "sea
cities" will reach its initial stage of
execution, officers Of the board are un-
able to say. but it is likely that as
soon as the Leviathan and other. great
vessels formerly used in the trans
atlantic passenger traffic are released
by the. Navy, Department they Will be
ref1tted and. under the American flag
carry passengers to Europe. To do
this will require considerable time
and q large amount of Money
Originally the United States seized
644.713 tons Of German and Austrian
tonnage. 1t is unlikely that in the
final settlement Of peace terms any
of the vessels taken over will be re-
turned to Germany. The Leviathan
is q vessel Of more than $4,000 tons
and, next to the 1mperator. which es-
capped the vigilance Of the British
navy when war was declared in
1914 is the largest steamship ever
buflt.