New-York tribune., 1918-01-31
American, Allied and Neu-
trail Vessels Under Board
of Three
Diversion to End
New York Congestion
British Maritime Agent
Here Has Place on New
Committee

NASHiNGTON, Jan. 30.-Central-
ized control cf transatlantic shipping
was established to-day with the crea-
ton Of q Ship Control Committee to
have supreme charge of the operation
Of ali ships-American, allied and neu-
tral-entering and leaving American
ports,
The committee was named by repre-
sentatiyes Of the Shipping Board, the
WaT and Navy departments, the Food
aud Fuel administration, the Director
General of Railroads, the British gov
crument and ship owners, who met to
devise some plan for speeding up the
movement of supplies to Europe. 1t
comprises T. A. S. Franklin, Of the In
:crnatlonal Mercantile Marine, chair
nan; II. II. Raymond, head Of the
Clyde and Mallory lines, and recently
made Shipping Controller at New York,
and Sir Cunnop Guthrie, director Of
British shipping in this country
Creates Pool of Ships
The arrangement, as explained by
Shipping Board officials, in effect
creates pool of ships moving sup
plies to Europe. Goods destined for
overseas will be loaded in available
ships, whether operated by the United
States or the Allies With the aid of
fhe Railroad Administration, the com
mitteo will divert to Southern ports
much Of the supplies that heretofore
have clogged the port Of New York, and
incoming vessels Will be directed by
wireless to proceed to the ports in
which materials of the most impor-
tancc await shipment.
The plan yet has to be approved by
she British government and by the
other allies, but officials to-day re-
ceived the assurance OF Sir Cunnop
Guthrie and Sir Richard Crawford, Of
he British Embassy, that this would
lie forthcoming.
Approval OF the neutrals is not
ncccssary. inasmuch as neutral ships
operated by the United States and the
Allies are expected under charter.
The British long have urged an ar
raugcment of the kind and months ago
sought to have the United States enter
he interAllicd chartering conference.
Tho centralized control authorized to-
ence on this side of the water.
Send u. S. Board Abroad
In connection with the action Of
iicials attached particular significance
TO the decision to dispatch abroad Ray
mond =. Stevens, vice chairman Of the
Shipping Board, and George Rubiee, Of
tho boards legal staff, to sit in Lon
don and Paris, as permanent represcn~
tatives of the United States in shipping
matters. The representatives on the
other side will seek t. accomplish the
same aims sought by creation Of the
control committee In addition, they
will represent the United States in the
ALLEGATION of neutral tonnage obtained
ny agreements between the Allies and
neutral countries.
A decision to give the control COM
mlttce authority to divert to the vari-
Gus ports shipments of goods intended
or overseas transportation, officials
said. will accomplish an amalgamation
Of rail and water transp portation facih-
lies sought since the beginning of the
var. Such a welding, it was declared,
vas impossible until the railroads came
Under government control.
AS explained tonight by Shipping
Board officials, the diversion os trafiic
20 ports other than NAx York will clear
New York Harbor Of its present con-
ecstion and do much to speed up load
ing and unloading. It was declared
that at least one million tons Of ship
ping would be gained by proper CO.
ordination Of effort
Army and Navy Agree
While the army and navy have no di-
rect representatives on the committee
officials said that both departments saw
the need Of coordination and had ex-
pressed themselves rs ready to fall into
line to accomplish it, The formation OF
conveys under the arrangement to shin
more goods out Of Southern ports will
De made somewhat moro difficult, but
no real obstacles, ii was said, will be
offered
he railroad administration has
agreed to cooperate in every way to
make the plan u success. and will So
N@..A