The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-09-29
j. S. TAKES OVER
2 M0REL.I.NERS !.
German Passenger Ships Pa
tricia and Pretoria Obtained
by Shipping Board.
OTHER CRAFT TO FOLLOW
British Expected to Get Both
Vessels, Which Had Been AL
located to Ellerman Line.
OTHER CRAFT TO FOLLOW
Special Despatch TO THE Sun.

Special Despatch TO THE Sun.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 2s.-That the
Shipping Board has made arrange
ments with the military authorities for
the taking over OF all of the German
passenger liners which were allocated
to the American transport service by
the allied maritime conference became
plain to-day when 1t was learned that
representatives OF the board had taken
over to-day two additional vessels fol-
lowing the taking of the Imperator
yesterday.
One OF the vessels taken over, il was
learned from unofficial sources. was the
Patricia and the other is said to be the
Pretoria. Both OF these ships had
been allocated TO the Ellerman line by
British shipping authorities who ex-
pected to get them when they were re-
leased from army transport service.
Sanderson & Son. New York agents of
the Ellerman line. expected to get the
Patricia and the Pretoria.
The next vessel released by the army
to the Shipping Board probably will be
tho big liner Prinz Friedrich Wilhelm.
which British authorities had allocated
to the White Star Line.
No official explanation OF the diplo-
matte contretemps that brought action
that seems arbitrary was made to-day.
The situation Is in the hands OF the
American State Department. Under
Secretary OF State Polk is in Paris
meeting with the Supreme Council and is
expected to handle the matter.
No Change in situation.
It was officially stated tonight. how
ever. that every one of the eight Ger
man ships used by the army in the
transport service would be treated Just
as was the Imperator and that there
was no change in the situation that
had led the Shipping Board to take
this big vessel Just at the time of her
expected delivery to the Cunard Line
In New York.
All will be turned over by the army
| as fast as they are no longer needed
for bringing home American troops.
Every one of them is expected to be out
of this service in a few days and will
be turned over at New York or the port
of destination on the last trip across.
The vessels involved are the German
| vessels blockaded in German ports dur
! ing the war. In some instances they
, have been confused with the interned
German ships. all of which were award
ed TO the United States outright by
the Peace Conference. The interned
ships were those seized by the United
States in American ports when war
was declared on Germany.
Came Out OF German Ports.
The ships involved In the present
issue between the British and American
Governments came out OF German ports
/ after the signing Of the armistice. The
allied maritime conference allocated
them to the United States, first for such
period it is understood as there were
need for repatriation of American
| troops. II had been indicated from
British sources that when this task was
completed they were 20 go TO Great
/ Britain for the same purpose.
/ There were two incidents that plainly
upset this programme. One was the
| public announcement IN the United
( states that the Imperator was TO be op-
, Grated by the Cunard Line in regular
passenger service between New York
| and British ports in competition with
| AmericaN-vessels and for the transport
| Of British soldiers home. And the other,
coming close on the frst. was the send
| ing OF Instructions to Germany by the
ConttnSed on Eighth PG0a.