Arizona republican., 1918-11-16
HURLEY PLANS
 TO GET TANKS BACK H0ME AS .S00N AS ABLE
Says Iris Chief Purpose Of His Trip-Aims To Utilize 30 Enemy. Liners Will Return Troops 300,000 A Month If Allowed Ship
 building Is To Continue Without Interruption

NEW YORK, Nov. 15.-Edward N. Hurley. chairman of the United States shipping board, announced here tonight on the eve of his departure for Europe that the government intends to return tC this country speedily large part of the American expeditionary forces. The purpose of MT. Hurley's trip to Europe is to arrange the details for their trans portation.
 To offset the loss of transport ton mage through the withdrawal of British ships hitherto engaged in carrying American soldiers overseas. MT. Hurley hopes to utilize 25 or 30 German and Austrian liners, with accommodations for 4,000 men each. In compensation for the loan of these vessels, he said, food would be sent to the people of central Europe on their return voyages.
 MT. Hurley said the shipping board would be able to bring troops back at the rate of 100000 a month, If the war department wants them returned as fast as that" He would meet Gen eral Pershing at American field head quarters, he added, to discuss the de- tails of their home coming.
 To Get Boys Back Home.
 While he will go abroad with Herbert Hoover federal food administrator, to cooperate in arrangements for the shipment and distribution of foodstuffs to regions liberated under the armis- tice terms. and in a degree later to be determined, to Germany and Austria, MT Hurley said his mission had pri- marily to do with getting the boys back home"
 Convalescent wounded including many men who would have returned to the battle front had the war continued, would be the first troops brought out of France, he said They would be fol- lowed by units of various branches of the service, following plans already partly worked out by Secretary Baker and the general staff.
 On future developments in the in ternal affairs of Germany and Austria and their relations with the allies, the shipping official added, together with the trend of European events in gen. era1, would depend the number of troops to be brought to this country within the next few months, but he was pre- pairing, he stated, to transport large contingents.
 Will Use Enemy Liners.
 There are 67 transports flying the American flag, MT Hurley said, and il
 
 Austrian liners which he anticipated using temporarily, will suffice to bring American soldiers home as rapidly as the military authorities desire. If their capacity proves inadequate. he added the shipping board has 125 double deck cargo vessels, some of which can be transformed for transport work. He is reluctant, however, to withdraw these from freight service except in an emer- gency. MT. Hurley said he would take up with the allied maritime transport council in London. which would in turn confer with the German and Austrian maritime authorities, the question of utilizing some of the idle tonnage oi the central powers. There were fifteen liners at Hamburg and Bremen. he stated. and ten or fifteen in Austrian ports. which could carry in the aggre- gate 100000 men on each voyage to American ports, returning with food o1 other necessities.
 British transports, he stated, which have carried 60 per cent of the Ameri- can triops bound overseas since the military program was increased early last summer, will be utilized to convey British dominion and colonial troops back to their home countries.
 To Continue Building.
 Mir. Hurley said that present plans call for his return with Mir. Hoover be- fore Christmas. They will sail on the Olympic tomorrow. going first to Lon don for a three days conference witt food and shipping officials. From there they will go to Paris to meet authorities of the allied and American governments in direct touch with the rationing ant s.I-.
 Commenting on the government plan to continue the emergency ship building program, to help make up the worlds deficit of 20,000,000 tons (Continued on Page Two)