New-York tribune., 1919-01-17
U.S.Turns Back
Seized Ships
To All Owners
Those in Government Ser
vice To Be Operated by
the Shipping Board
Rate Control Remains
Ocean Freight. Conditions
Fast Approaching Normal
Other Nations to Follow

All American ships requisitioned dur
government service, have been re-
leased to their owners, according to an
an2euncemert issued yesterday by the
United States Shipping Board, which
also stated that for the vessels re-
tanned the United States had turned
over to The owners ton for ton ships
tuilt and owned by the government.
This action is an extension of that
taken recently when the Shipping
Board returned a fleet of oil tankers
to their owners.
A. E. Clegg, assistant director of
operations for the board, said that all
vessels now in American ports would
be turned over at once, and those on
voyage would be released Immediately
after making port.
On January 3 a Shipping Board re-
port showed that there were PAS Amer
lean vessels, aggregating 1,219,283 tens,
in requisition. About seventy-fve of
these are being used as troop and
supply ships by the army.
Other Ships Allocated
In addition to the return of reuuisi-
toned ships to their owners and re-
placement of vessels in government
service, thirty-four steamships of 275,-
1874 deadweight tons owned by the
Shipping Board were yesterday alocat-
ed to various lines for operation in
American trade, it became known here
The assignment was made by Shipping
Board officials at Washington.
The total number of ships owned by
I, the board is 636 of 2,54S,25O gross tons
of which 534 of 1,994,913 tons are new
vessels. SO of 257,962 tons are former
German ships. 6 of 24,417 tons former
Austrian ships and 81 of 1Oo,e62 tons
are former Great Lakes ships.
Although not yet officially an
nounced. 1T is understood that 80
steamships of 47S,76 tons requisition-
ed from Dutch owners for the war
emergency will also be returned to
their owners at an early date, with
the same proviso, that where the for
ner Dutch ships are now in service
as transports they will be replaced
ton for ton by, Shipping Board owned
under requisition approximately 900
steamers of about 1,417,OO0 tons owned
by other foreign governments than
Holland.
Shippers Are Surprised
Local shipping men were great,v
pleased yesterday at the announcement
that the Shipping Board has taken
steps for the immediate release of ali
vessels requisitioned for government
service. The action of the Federal
shlpplng authorities was genuine sur
prise to the majority of ship owners.
as Cney looked for further delay in the
return of the vessels.
1t was pointed out that the stem inst
taken means an early return to more
normal conditions in American ship
ping. Although control of trade routes
and freight rates is still retained bv
the Shipping Board the release of the
vessels, 1T was stated, meant a larger
supply OF tonnage for commercial pur-
poses. Shipping men expressed the
opinion that the continued control of
rates by the government will tend to
keep them stable and prevent a rate
cutting war.
'HiPplhs CONDITIONS all over the
world are beginning to get back to a
more normal basis. According to in
formation received privately from
London yesterday the British govern
mcnt will have returned practically all
requis ltioned vessels to private own
ers by March /. 1t is expected that
the French government will turn back
q number of vessels to their owners
for private operation on February Is
The French High Commission here
yesterday announced important reduc-
tions in freight rates to France on yes
sells chartered or requistioned by the
French government. The new general
cargo rate on French requisitioned and
French or allied chartered steamers ia
SIT ton weight or measurement from
United tSates Atlantic to French At
lantlc podts, compared with previous
rate. of $50.