The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram., 1919-12-26
ENGLAND TO
GET Liners
FROM U. s.
Remaining German Liners
Ordered Turned Over to
Great Britain by President
Wiison-Seven Are Left.
SERVICE IS COMPLETED.
(By Associated Press)

WASHINGTON. Dec. 26.-On rec
ommendation of the state department,
President Wilson has ordered the re-
naming seven former German ships
used to bring home American troops
turned over to Great Britain. BY his
Instructions. the shipping board an
nounced today this action would be-
taken rs soon as properly accredited.
British representatives were ready to
receive the vessels, now in New York
harbor.
The Imperator. second largest
afloat, and one Of the original eight
ir American transport service, was de-
ivered to the Cunard line.
The presidents action. it was said
at the state department., followed
report from Great Britain that the
ships must be surrendered under the
original ALLEGATION of tho intcrallied
shipping commission which arranged
to get the vessels out of German har-
bors following the armisticc. On in
vestigation. it was added. the depart
ment he'd found that the United States
had no right to retain the ships be-
yond the period of their service in
bringing back American troops. now
completed, and SO reported to Presi-
dent Wilson.
Used for Troop Return.
The vessels are those assigned to
the United States after the armistice
for repatriation of American troops.
and designated by the tnter-aliied
naval Council to be turned over to
Great Britain under the armistice
terms. The Imperator has already
been delivered to the British.
In . letter to Secretary Lansing.
made public today, John Barton Payne
chairman of the shipping board. said:
Il am directed by the president to
comply with the request contained in
your letter transmitted to me this day
from the White House, and to advise
you that the seven ex-German ships,
towit: Graf Waldersee, Zeppelin. Pre-
toria, Cap Finistere. Mobile. Prinz
Friedrich Wilhelm. and Kaiserin Au-
guste Victoria. now in the .harbor Of
New York. will be delivered to the
representative OF Great Britain as
soon ss the proper person ID desig-
mated to receive the same. - ------.-
e.. Delivery Delayed.
Delivery of the ships to Great Brit
ain was delayed as the shipping board
wished to obtain the use of the Ameri-
der the German flag. A. proposal was
made by Chairman Payne that each
country be permitted to use the yes
sells desired, pending q hnal determin-
alton Of their ownership.
No action has been taken SO far on
this proposal and the transfer of the
former German ships to Great Britain
I is made without any explanation other
| than that it was done by direction of
| the president.
While the presidents order puts an
end to the controversy over the Ger
man ships. the status of IL Standard
Oil tank steamers formerly under the
German flag but now in the Firth of
Forth under British Jurisdiction. re.
mains In doubt.
| Delay in turning over the German
passenger craft by the shipping board.
it has been understood, was due to ef.
\ forts to obtain title to these oil car.
riers. The last formal action as to
the tankers was the order Of the su-
! preme council at Paris that they be
held in British custody until finally
disposed of and be not delivered for
foperatfon under the awards made by
the allied commission.