The Washington times., 1919-02-22

this time, and all talk Of that sort is
nonsense. Give US the ships and the
monthly sailing records will take
care Of themselves. We can fill the
vessels with soldiers. no matter how
fast they come. We have received
all the shipping we have been prom
ised by the War Department, and
sailings have been as heavy as any
one who appreciates the present state
Of the worlds shipping should ex-
pect.
I'VE confidently expect to have
175,O0O embarkations in February.
That is about the average for Janu-
airy. allowing for the fewer days in
February. We expect not only to
maintain this average, but gradually
to better il until the middle of spring.
when we look for a substantial in
crease Of shipping, both from for
eign sources and from the cargo
boats which are now being fitted out
in the United States to carry passen-
gers.
No Immediate Increase.
Immediate increase in the number
Of passenger vessels available from
foreign sources is not looked for.
We have secured a certain amount
OF German shipping. and in March we
expect TO carry 1900 troops back to
the United States in these boats.
These ships will remain in the United
States for several weeks, however, to
creased carrying accommodations, and
then will be put into transport serv-
ice again that will increase our
tTOOD-carrvinC facilities
81 cannot say how many boats we
have engaged in carrying troops at
present. because all shipping is fur
nished TO It's from the United States,
and it varies from month to month.
For example, we may have four
ships carrying troops at the present
time which will be withdrawn from
service on their arrival IN the United
States and other ships Of different
capacities will be put on in their
places by the War Department. Ships
are in constant need OF repairs, and
when ship breaks down it is diff
fcult 10 tell when il Will be ready
for sea again.
Britain Furnished Ships.
"One must realize that when the
United States was rushing troops to
France at the rate OF 100000 a month
last summer. more than half the
shipping engaged in that work was
furnished by the British govern
ment. Great Britain. France and
Italy were going on short rations to
make that diversion of shipping pos
sible and get our troops over mere
where they could fight.
After the armistice. naturally
enough, Great Britain set about the
work Of getting in a supply Of food
and material and transporting home
her colonial troops TO India, Aus
tralia, New Zealand. Canada, and
South Africa-trOOps that have been
over here for several years. When
that task has been completed Great
Britain will turn over to us a num-
her Of additional transports. which
viii increase our troop-carIying ca
Dacity greatly.
Exceed Estimates.
at the present time we are utiliz-
ing a number OF British boats. Every
month we are told how many men
we can figure on transporting home
II, the British boats the next month.
So far the British have exceeded their
estimates every time. We are al
ready using French. Italian and 9TH
er vessels and are adding new ones
as the opportunity offers.
The return of the American EI-I
pcdItiOnary Forces. therefore. is al
most wholly d question Of boats. At
all times since the signing OF the
armisticc the army has been prepared
to load without undue delay all The
transports available. ri present there
are 100000 TO 100000 officers ana
men ready for quick movement and
OF these J,1o3 officers and 1921 en-
listed men are actually at cmbarka-
zion ports, the remainder being with
IN easy travelling distance OF the
ports"