The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-11-16

To offset the loss of transport tonnage through the withdrawal of British ships which have hitherto engaged in carry ing American soldiers overseas, MT. Hur- ley hopes to utilize 9 or 30 German and Austrian liners, with accommodations for 4OO0 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.
 TO CONSULT PERSHING
 MT. Hurley said the shipping board would be able to bring troops back at the rate of 300,oeo month, if the war department wants them returned as fast as that He would meet General Persh- ing at American field headquarters, he added, to discuss the details of their homecoming.
 While he will go abroad with Herbert Hoover, federal food administrator, to CO., operate in arrangements for the shipment and distribution of foodstuffs to re- gions liberated under the armistice terms and in degree later to be determined to Germany and Austria, MT. Hurley said his mission had primarily to do with getting the boys back home
 WOUNDED COME FIRST
 Is men who would have returned to the bat tlefront had the war. continued, would be the first troops brought out of France, he said. They would be followed by units ot various branches of the service, fol- lowing plans already partly worked out by Secretary Baker and the general staff.
 On future developments in the internal affairs of Germany and Austria and their relations with the allies, the shipping official added, together with the trend Of European events in general, would de- pend the number of troops to be brought to this country within the next few months. but he was preparing, he stated, to transport large contingents.s
 U. s. HAS 67 TRANSPORTS
 There was 67 transports flying the American flag MT Hurley said, and it is hoped that these with German and Aus trian liners which he anticipates using temporarily, will suffice to bring Ameri- can soldiers home as rapidly as the mill. stary authorlties sdesigezs4xIt their ca pacity proves Inadequate, he added, the shipping board has 12o double deck cargo vessels, some of which can be trans formed for transport work. He is re- luctant, however, to withdraw these from freight service except in an emergency.
 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 au- tEorities, the question of utilizing some of the idle tonnage or the central pow CTS. There were 15 liners at Hamburg and Bremen. he stated, and 10 or Is in Austrian ports which could carry in the aggregate 100000 men on each voyage to American ports, returning with food or other necessary cargoes. British trans ports, he stated. which have carried 60 per cent of the American troops bound overseas since the military programme was increased early last summer, will be utilized to convey British, dominion and colonial troops back to their home coun- tries
 RETURN BY CHRISTMAS
 Mr Hurley said that present plans call for his return with MT. Hoover before Christmas. They will sail on the Olyn1- pic tomorrow, going first to London for three-day conference with food and shipping officials. From there they will go to Paris to meet authorities of the allied and Americap governments i'll di- rect touch with the rationing and ship ping situation on the continent.
 Commenting on the governments plan to continue the emergency ship build ing plan to help making up the world $ deficit of 20000,00o tons brought about through the ravages of war, MT. Hurley said American yards will produce l50 1,avsaIr of a00( OD0 tons perrepate during