Rock Island Argus., 1919-12-26
WASHINGTON
DECIDES U. S,
HAS NO TITLE
standard Oil Tankers,
However, Remain in
Hands of England.

President Wilson has ordered the
remaining seven former German
ships used to bring home American
troops turned over to Great Brit
ain. BY his instructions, the ship
ping board announced today, this
action would be taken as soon as a
properly accredited British repre-
sentative was ready to receive the
vessels, now in New York harbor.
The Imperator, second largest
ship afloat and one Of the original
eight Hamburg-American liners
employed in American transport
service. was delivered recently to
the Cunard line.
Under Original ALLEGATION.
The presidents action, it was
said at the state department., fol-
lowed a report from Great Britain
that the ships be surrendered under
the original ALLEGATION of the inter-
allied shipping commission, which
arranged to get the vessels out of
German harbors following the ar
mistice. On investigation, it was
added. the department had found
that the United States had no right
to retain the ships beyond the pc
riod of their service in bringing
back American troops, now COM
pleted. and so reported to Presi-
dent Wilson.
Tankers' Fate in Doubt.
While the presidents order puts
an end to the controversy over the
German ships. the status OF IL
Standard Oil tank steamers former
ly under the German nag but now
in the Firth Of Forth under British
jurisdiction, remains in doubt. De-
lay in turning over the German
passenger craft by the shipping
board. it has been understood, was
due to efforts to obtain title to
these oil carriers. The last formal
action as to the tankers was the
order Of the supreme council al
Paris that they be held in British
custody until finally disposed ol
and be not delivered for operation
under the awards made by the al
>}ied commission.
Letter Gives Order.
In letter to Secretary Lansing
made public today. John Barton
Payne. chairman of the shippins
board said:
II am directed by the president
to comply with the request contain.
ed in your letter and % advise you
that the seven ex-German ships, to.
wit. Graf Waldersee. Zeppelin, Pre-.
toria, Cap Ffnisteree, Mobile, Prin7
Friedrich Wilhelm and Kaiserir
Auguste Victoria. now in New Yorl
harbor will be delivered to the rep.
resentative Of Great Britain as soor
as he is designated
Standard without Word.
New York. Dec. 26.-At the Of
fice Of the Standard Oil company
which claims ownership of the for
mer German flag tankers. it wa,
said that no word had been received
as to. the disposition of the ships
The tankers, IL in number. and az
|. gregating about seventy thousan,
I, tons, were in Hamburg when tn,
armistice was signed. 1t was un
derstood here that they were to b,
turned over to the Standard OF
company, but instead that the,
were ordered to the Firth of Fortl
for distribution among England
France, Belgium, Italy and tn,
United States.
Divide Them Up.
ALLEGATION of the seven ex-Ger
man passenger ships held her,
since September, will be made b,
the British ministry of shippin,
among the various British lines.
Crews to handle the ships allo
Gated are now here. having beel
brought from Great Britain prio
to the order which delayed the de
livery Of the ships to the British
government.