The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-01-20
SHIPS TO JOIN
TWO AMERICAS
Chairman Payne of Shipping
Board Tells Pan-American
Conference of Plans
TO SHAKE HANDS DAILY
Two-Weekly Sailings Be Main
tanned With East Coast
of South America.

Washington, Jan. 19-Affirming his
belief that only by ships, and more
ships could the United States and
South America be brought close enough
together to "shake hands daily" Chair
man Payne today outlined to the Pan
American Financial conference the
plans of the shipping board for linking
the interests of the Pan-American re-
publieS on a chain of great steamers
plying between the two continents.
Indicating the American govern
ments keen desire to establish an ade-
quate service to South American ports,
Mr.. Payne said the shipping boards
policy has sometimes manifested itself
in an optimism which the cold logic of
fact has not justified Notwithstand-
ing that, he declared the board would
proceed with its plans.
In explanation of why fast passen-
ger steamers had not already been put
into the South American service. the
speaker said the war delayed the build
ing of passenger steamers by creating
an abnormal demand for cargo ships
and that the repatriation of American
soldiers had caused the war depart
ment to keep in military service many
big liners.
I'VE are building 26 new passenger
ships for delivery this spring Chair
man Payne continued The war and
navy departments have turned over to
us 27 eX-German passenger ships, but
these having been made into troop
ships, are not in condition to be used
for a passenger service until recon-
structed. The first of these is the Moe
casin now on its way to South Amer
lea, and Will be followed by other and
larger ships as fast as they can be
made ready for service"
"0ur present plans for the passen-
ger service to the east coast OF South
America are.
Five steamers, maintaining tsear
weekly service between New York.
Rio de Janeiro, Santos, Montevideo and
Buenos Aires.
''South-bound, these vessels viii pro-
ceed directly to Rio de Janeiro. The
five vessels selected for this service are
all eX-German steamers of f5 knots
speed-the Aeolus, Huron, Pocah ontas,
Dekalb and Princess Matoika." Mr..
Payne said three of these would be
ready for service in April or Mey. All
will be converted to burn fuel oil.
Their accommodations will be first
class and part of their cargo holds will
be refrigeratered to care for the move
ment of perishable products.
"The board regards the passenger
mount Importance" continued Mr..
Payne. Pending the reconditioning
of the five steamers mentioned above
is doing what it can to provide a tenn
porary service. The Moccasin will be
followed early in March by the CallaO,
and It is hoped to secure temporary
use of one of the vessels now in the
army transport service to fill the gap
and maintain for the present at least
Z monthly sailing.
For the calendar year of 1919, 100
board steamers We're de-
spatched from United States ports to
Brazil carrying a total of 444,400 tons
of cargo. To the river Platte, 129
steamers with 689,600 tons of cargo.
I'VE arc planning to inaugurate
regular monthly service between the
river Platte. Antwerp and other Euro
pean ports in February, and will place
on this run refrigeratered cargo steam
ers capable of lifting approximately
1900 tons of frozen beef loading such
general cargo as may be available
Further, cargo steamers will be
added to this service from time to time
mo aContiaued on Pane TwO1