The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-04-29

transportation ard maintenance Of
American troops abroad is the echo Of
that appeal that has stirred the United
States shipping board from day TO
day.
The decision has now been reached.
The supreme effort is TO be made 10
get troops abroad. Considerations of
commerce and trade have been def
niteiy put aside. The business Of
winning the war Is the only business
that will be recognized from this
time on.
million. million and a half two
million men and more are going to
France as soon az they can be loaded
on transports and sped away It is
not a matter of shipbuildiuR pro-
gram or OF negotiations for tonnage
The necessary tonnage ia now under
the control of the United States, and
to the last ton it VIII be devoted to
the transportation Of troops and war
supplies until the last reserves' of
American troops have been placed In
fighting position on French soil,
Congress viii be aske ed TO authorize
ar army OF three million men avail
able for service abroad. and q reserve
army at home. both for home protec-
tion and TO make up the wastage at
the front. Congress is ready to vote
an army of five million.
IT Is waiting the estimates Of the
war department The war department
had been waiting upon the shipping
board. The shipping board promised,
at an important conference early In
the week. TO supply all the shipping
that would be required to take every
available man to the front in France
Quartermaster-tiener Cocktails. In
supreme command Of the transporta-
tion OF troops and supplies. later fur
nished the shipping board with an es-
innate based on the number OF men
the United States was prepared 70 send
to the front II caused the officials
of the shipping board tn pause but
now they have made their answer
They will meet the shipping hoard re-
quiremeuts of the estimate Of troops
supplied by General GoethRLs. II is
8 the last word II rs reported that the
estimate ia in excess ~ two million
Il men. in fact that e IS close 20 two
! million. 1--WE hundred thousand men,
In It's announcement today, the
United States shipping board puts for
ward an entirely new plan II liz The
4 estimate that two and one-hAIf dead
q weight tons Of shipping viii supply
h soldiers needs in France for a ear
Departmental estimates have been as
high as sfx eight tons OF shipping
for each year The shipping board
says that the estimates were based on
the wrong prem fseS The soldiers
4 needs may amount 20 six or more tons
Of shipping a year, but on" tin of
( dsadweight shipping. under present
( conditions. will carry two and a half
tons OF supplies and the soldiers
needs should be reckoned in tons OF
supplies and not in tons Of shipping
III The shipping hoard has enough tom
q mage afoat under IT'S absolute direc~
\ ton and control to transport the
+ necessary number of troops TO France
s. 10 make mp force Of two million
American fighters without waiting
upon new shipping. and to sustain
4 them after they are landed in France.
The program has nothing 10 do with
4 bodybuilding. II is based on the ton
mage anoat but i takes into the troop
ship service all the vessels unfit for
transatlantic service at the supreme
\ sacrifice OF ocean commerce and trade.
IL means the dfverting Of every sea-
worthy liner or freightcr under the
American flag to the transatlantic
trade. II means the calling into the
q lanes OF trades that these ships viii
Y abandon for the more important ser
4 Vice OF every bottom that can be OBJ
#s mined by coultN ndeerug, trade or
q harter. st horne or abrosd. There win
- no stopping now Supreme needs
xAn be met only by supreme measure
81 ard the shipping board and the war
Il trade board. with the unanimous
8H backtrg OF the government iS taxing
fh~ necessary steps 10 meet the situs-
NJ zion. The statement by the shipping
&Oard today contains the mild warn
FSSnw that cargo space for army require
q iDants Is likely "a cause further diver
ton OF ocean tonnage pretty soon
s~The two lists ~ restricted imports
n nnounced March % and April If WITH
&}5afftmateiy make several hundred thou
n1ndA Of deadweight tons available
R1nns are under way for increasing
&tko amount"
M 4.he fact Is that a third list which
51r3lf IN sheet wipe out all imports ex-
<nux those absolutely necessary for
A. industry is now in preparation.
III viii be announced within a week or
&5ro. and will result IN the diversion
~ practically ever" seaworthy ship
S0fn coastirg 70 transatlantic trade
Earthquake i'm Granada
lsdrfd, April 2s.--A violent earth
ke shook the province of Granada
~ night. Damage was not extern