The sun., 1919-07-17
MARINE STRIKE
SPREADS;;SHIP
BOARDTOFIGHT
Seeks Crews for French
Govt Cargo Vessels
So Held Here. ~- &
". S. HONOR INVOLVED
Engineers Pledge Support
Embargo on Export Freight
Threatens. ,I

with the Shipping Board ana the
private steamship owners each trying
70 throw on the other the RESPONSE
bility. for settlement with tho unions
the. seamen's strike continued 10
spread yesterday. The Shipping Board,
officials of which have shown rciuc-
lance to believe that the men would
not accept the terms offered Saturday
by vice-Chairman Stevens, apparently
has determined TO fight the organtza-
tons. -
At the offices Of the, board In this
city an appeal was issued last night
for men to take the place Of the
strikers on vessels lying at Atlantic
ports with cargo destined for the
French Government The increased
rates which already have been offered
the strikers are to be paid.
The appeal follows:
"The United States Government -
under contract with the French Gov
eminent to provide immediately milk
ing cattle and railway cars for the
use of the French Government. Enough
Of these cattle are now in stock cars
at Norfolk to fll six ships. Three
ships are waiting there for them-the
West Arrow, the Western King and the
West Hobonat.
Three other ships assigned by the
Shipping Board to carry them are at
piers In New York, waiting TO proceed
to Norfolk for theee cargoes. The six
ships have been abandoned by their
crews on account of the shipping strike
that has been running for q week.
Milking Cattle suffer.
Meantime these cattle promised by
the United States Government to the
French Government are suffering at
Norfolk. Some Of them have calved
there in cars and all of them for their
own safety need to be aboard ship at
the earliest possible moment The
honor of the Government in its engage
rnents with the French Government is
involved. the national needs Of France
are affected and the humane obliga-
tions to the living cargoes are being
helplessly violated. No private person
or corporation in this country or In
France has any connection with either
the ships or the cargoes No further
shipments of cars or breeding cattle are
being put en- route by the Government
but these cattle must be moved.
THE crews that left the ships seem
not 10 understand that a Government
understanding with another Government
was involved and that no private person
or corporation had anything to do with
either the ships or the cargoes The
Shipping Board. therefore, asks for
volunteers to man the ships now lying
ut Norfolk and New York. Experienced
men, union or non-union, are asked to
apply.
For the ships at New York crews
will be signed at the Shipping Board
sea service bureau, at so Washington
street. The officers and crewa will be
paid at full rate offered by the Ship
ping Board to adjust the present mari.
time dispute, an increase of 10 per cent
in the wages OF all officers and ar
increase Of $40 or more over the present
rates TO the crews. according to the
following scale:
Carpenter. 800; boatswain, 800
quartermaster. $3.50; able seaman
es6; ordinary seaman, $50; boy. $40
water tender, SEQ; oiier, 500; steward
slS5; chief cook. sll5; second cook and
baker. sio6; third cook, SIS; messman
as, and mess boy. s70."
The local ship riggers' union decided
yesterday to do no more work on yes
sells which are tied UP because their crew
are on strike. The riggers. however. will
continue to work on vessels In crydock.
Shipping Board Attacked.
Bitter criticism OF the attitude which
the Shipping Board has taken was voice,
yesterday by Edgar r. Luckenbach
president OF the Luckenbach Steamship
Company, with Offices at - Whitehall
street. So far from promoting the up
building of an American merchant ma
rine, according TO Mr.. Luckenbach, tn
present tactics OF the Shipping Board, 1
continued, are likely to result in the dis
migration of the great fleet which ha
been built up during the war with none,
provided by American taxpayers.
The attitude of the Shipping Board 1
entirely inconsistent" Mr.. LTckenbacl
said yesterday. I'm the first place, tn
wages paid on American ships at tn
present time are the highest in tn
world. IN the second place, American
ships carry more men than any othe
vessels In the world. They are compelle
to do this by the Federal laws, 1t ais
costs more to feed the crews OF American
ships than those of other nationalities-
tnls also by reason or certain Btatutor,
provisions.
"And now the Shipping Board by II
action on this controversy Is throwing
more obstacles In the way OF the Ameri
can merchant marine. 1t might be adde,
also that the board is trying to sell Gov
eminent ships at from $500 to $226
ton when we have positive knowledge 0
the recent sale to an American OF ney
English tonnage at $106 ton. TIL
American purchaser 10 operating TIL
tonnage under the British nag.