New-York tribune., 1920-01-29
Baker Holds Up
Sal G of Former
German Liners
Protest Made Against Dis
posal of Vessels Included
by Var Department in Its
Army Transport Reserve

WASHINGTON. Jan. 28.-Action on
bids for thirty of the former German
liners seized in the United States was
deferred to-day by the Shipping Board
as a result Of protest from Secretary
Baker against the sale of such of these
vessels as have been included by the
War Department IN its army transport
reserve.
Mr.. Baker not only has protested to
Chairman Payne with the request that
the matter be presented to President
Wilson, but has taken the question up
with the Senate Commerce Committee,
which now is undertaking to formulate
a permanent policy to govern the
American merchant marine
Payne to Hold Conference
Chairman Payne on receiving Mr.
Bakers protest promised that no ac-
tlon would be taken until he could
confer with War Department officials.
Mr.. Baker IS confined to his home with
severe cold, and the date of the CON
ference has not been fixed. 1t is un-
dcrstood however, that the question
of the disposition OF the vessels has
been placed already before President
Wilson for final decision
In his letter TO Chairman Payne the
War Secretary disclosed that the Ship
ping Board, the Navy Department, the
War Department and the Department
Of Commerce had agreed, with the ap-
proval Of President Wilson, upon a
policy TO be followed in connection
with the former German ships which
contemplated the building up of an
! army transport reserve. He said ves-
sells released to the Shipping Board
for the service indicated in the agree
ment were released with the under
standing that they are subject to i'm
mediate withdrawal in case of an
emergency for use as trans ports"
In view of the approved agreement
above referred to- and the fact that the
War Department has expended mil
lions OF dollars for repair and outfit
ting Of these vessels wrote the Sec
retary, 'and has available at this time
complete plans for utilizing these YES
sells IN case OF an emergency, I re-
quest that 10 action be taken toward
the sale Of any Of the vessels forming
part Of the army transport reserve
until the matter has been presented TO
the President"
Ships Named in Agreement
Twelve ships were named specifically
IN the agreement, six being allocated
/ for the South American service and six
/ for the transpacitic service Those for
the South American service were the
Aeolus, De kalb, Huron. Pocahontas,
Princess Matoiha and Antigone. Those
for the Pacific service were the Presi-
dent Grant, Mercury, Powhatan, Sus-
h. ,r,~-o No! ,f..
In addition to these ships the army
transport service has listed other Of
the German liners for the transport re-
serve. They are the Amphion. Freedam
! Philippines. Leviathan, Agamemnon
! Won SteuDen. George Washington Mar
tha " Washington, Nansemond and Mount
Vernon.
Bids Received on Liners
Bids on the liners. which include the
/ Leviathan, were received up to and in
cluding January 90. and were con.
sidered to-day by the Shipping Boarc
directors. In all twelve tenders were
received. One of these was for the
entire group Of ships and another fo1
a large proportion Of the vessels. Afte,
the meeting Of the directors to-day
Chairman Payne said he was not pre-
pared to make any statement regarding
actlOn OF the boards on the bids.
In his letter to Chairman Jones OF
the Senate Commerce Committe. Mr.
Baker requested that before hearings
on the proposed legislation now pend.
ing before the committee and bearing
upon the future disposition of govern
nent owned tonnage were closed
the War Department have an oppor-
tunity to present certain information
relative thereto" He added request
that Brigadier General Hines, chief Of
the transportation service, be called.