The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-02-12
HURLEY BACK, FAITH.
STRONG IN US. SHIPS
Chairman Says He's Profited
Much From Visit to
Europe.
WAGE QUESTION SIMPLE
More Than 100000 Tons of
German Vessels Soon to Be
Available, He Asserts.

Edward n. Hurley chairman of the
United States Shipping Board. who left
in November with Herbert Hoover 10
study the shipping situation as II related
10 the transportation of food to Europe
and bringing back American soldiers re-
turned last evening by the transport Le-
viathan, very optimistic about the future
Of American shipping.
He said the Shipping Board would
soon get down to q definite, business
like basis and that the American mer-
camille marine would proft by his ex-
perience. as he had learned much. from
an international viewpoint OF shipping.
He said he did not consider the CUES
ton Of wages serious matter. The
wages Of the eeamen of Great Britain.
Holland and some OF the Scandinavian
countries were almost on a similar
basis
From information now at hand Mr..
Hurley said, ''the total available German
passenger tonnage for carrying Amer
lean troops 10 more than 100000 gross
tons. This estimate does not include the
Bismarck, latest Of the great Hamburg
American ships. of about $4,000 tons
gross, nearing completion. nor the lmper-
ator. sister ship of the Leviathan. The
1mperator cannot be delivered for several
months
ALSO excluded from this total OF 60o.-
900 are incompleted or unavailable giant
vessels, such as the TirpitI and the CO.
lumbus. concerning which no reports
have been received.
Engfneers Get Figures.
''rhe estimate is based upon listed ton
mage and information obtained from Ger
man delegates and from commission
OF American engineers now at Bremen.
and who since February 1 have been
making a survey OF German steamships
in German ports The United States
share OF this tonnage should give the
United States an additional troop carry
Ing capacity OF more than 10000 men a
month.
"A number Of the German ships arc
ready to put to sea at once. 1t is planned
that these shall be manned temporarily
by German officers and crews and shall
proceed Immediately to British or French
ports under the direction OF the Naval
-Armistice Commission.
Upon arrival at the ports German Of
ficers and crews will be repatriated and
the ships turned over to our navy. The
Navy Department In anticipation of
these new demands. has assembled a
large number OF officers and men who
arc ready to take charge OF all German
ships that may be delivered.
"A large part OF the German tonna ge
will be ready for sea within the first five
weeks from tomorrow. and the rest will
he delivered at later varying dates. The
question Of making alterations with a
view to increasing carrying capacity will
be considered after the arrival Of the
ships
The ships will fly the American flag
Some OF them are in Spain, some In Ar
gentina and others in the Dutch East
Indies and other neutral ports. These
ships will be delivered in neutral ports
10 the allied Governments Interested"
Mr.. Hurley said the American mer-
chant marine had advanced to a position
that would inspire the admiration of the
American people. We have 2.072 vessels
OF S.47o,3se gross tonnage against 1872
vessels of 6,364,926 gross tons of foreign
shipping trading with the United States.