New-York tribune., 1919-03-12
Situation Reaches Serious
Stage and Food for Allies
May Be Held Up Here
Baker Is Appealed To
Alauretania Delayed Until
Tomorrow; Coal May Be
Taken On at Halifax

government intervention, the harbor
strike developed what is regarded as
Us most serious phase yesterday with
the tle-up of transatlantic shipping.
Numerous liners engaged in the
transportation of troops and passen-
gers have been delayed for days at
a time because Of their inability to
obtain bunker coal, some Of the larger
vessels having even lost as much as
q week.
Although up to the present only pas
senSer vessels have been affected, it
was pointed out by shipping men that
few days more will see urgently
needed food shipments for Europe also
detained.
SO grave has this side Of the stu
alton become that steamship officials,
IN an effort to avoid the tic-up, have
been making arrangements to get their
bunker coal at Halifax
Coal Dealers Seek Aid
AS result wholesale coal dealers
hero yesterday wired TO Secretary of
War Baker suggesting that the gov
ernment commander harbor equip
ment sufficient to meet the needs of
all troopships managed by the Army
and Navy departments.
a canvass Of the various steamship
companies disclosed that virtually
every line running from this port had
some vessels delayed by the strike.
The Cunard officials stated that the
Mauretania, which was due to sail to-
day, will not sail until tomorrow noon.
The Caronla, they reported, will sail
to-day, although scheduled to leave
last Monday. If this vessel can't get
enough coal for the entire trip bv to-
day she will leave for Halifax, where
they said, she will take on as much as
she needs.
The White Star Line reported the
Lepland held up since last Saturday.
She will sail to-day. The Adriatic,
due to sail March Is, will not leave
port until four days later
Other Liner DELAYED
The French Line reported the steam
ship Niagara delayed day, sailing to-
day instead Of yesterday. The Red Star
frelghter Belgic will sail when she has
been sufficiently coaled, the exact date
not being known to her owners The
Munson liner Munamar will probably
sail for Cuba on Saturday. Officials
of the Clyde and Mallory lines could
not say definitely that the Mohawk and
Lampasas, engaged in coastwisc trade.
would sail as per schedule. the Mohawl,
having been booked to leave tomorrow
Wage Scale Rejected
Mr.. Bonynge announced that the
Llghteragc Association, the Tow Boat
Exchange and the Boat Owners Asso-
cation officially appriscd the union
leaders yesterday that the wage sched-
ulc submitted by Mr.. hughes, the Fed
eral mediator, had been unanlmouslv
rejected by each of these organiza-
tlons. He said the report given out bv
union officials that certain owners
were secretly signing up the new waro
scale and accepting the eight-h hour dnv
was entirely untrue.
In the meantime the movomc nt
among the longshoremcn in refusinp
TO handle goods or freight brought ia
piers on craft manned by non-union
men continued to spread Holm T.
Riley, president of the District Counc;l
OF the international Association of
Lohgshorcmen, reported that additional
hundreds Of men have left thci,
work.
Some Differences Are Settled
conference between union Icodcr,
and railroad officials called TO jron ,u,
grievances claimed by both sides was
dcclarcd to have satisfactorily adj
Justcd the difficulties. II vas cjuinro
~ the strikers that he ralronds Lu,
bcen handling work for the Brsh Tnr.
minnls IN violation Of their agreement
Ihls the railroad administration I'M,
agreed TO discontinuc.
Inc hhrbor boatmcn and tho por,
ana tcrminnl workers arc still dissatia'
hcd with the railroad agreement as n
whole, and protest meeting Of thr
Two organizations has been chilled fo,
Friday afternoon Mt 3 o'clock. nj 81
Columbia Hall. Twenty-hfth stree,
and Ninth Avenue.
Thomas L. Dcnhunty, head Of the
Marine Workere' Ahiliation. and f
""' - NHccar'Ill, buSiHcSH agent of
ne 'ihrbor Boatmcn, called on Muvor
llylnn yesterday and assured him chat
the strike committee would geo to il
that the union tuRmon would move tho
garbage scows TO sca. The union nlso
gave permission for the operation of
four lighters owned by Henry IIcbcr
mann, at Pier !. These craft were on
ragged III carrying supplies for the
Kcd Cross the two passenger 5oats
Highlander and Homer Rnnlsdcll
which took shipyard workcrs to shoot
crs' Island will nlso be running to-day
Coal Association Meets
The action Of the coal dealers fol
lowed n meeting of the Wholesale Coal
Trade Association at the Whitehall
Club. Their request for g0vcrnme Mt
Intervention was embodied in the fol-
lowing telegram:
"Undcrstand transports landing
troops here have been delayed in re-
turning and others have been com
PEELED TO go to other ports for bunker
coal because of the harbor strike. We
suggest the communicating of harbor
equipment sufficient to meet the needs
of all troopships, to be manned by
Army and Navy departments and thus
avoid, for instance, the sending of the
Maurctnnin to Halifax for coaling.
There is an ample supply Of coal at
this port to take care Of all govern
mcnt needs"
W us/,ingfOu Officials