The New York herald., 1921-08-28
ALL u MAIL ships
ORDERED RETURNED
TO THE GOVERNMENT
Zine Seized German Vessels
and Three American Built
Taken From Company
After Huge Losses.
FLAG WILL STAY UP
Three American Companies
to Continue Operation Of
Fleet as Patriotic Ser
vice, Lasker Says.
BOARD MUST PAY DEBT
100000 Due to Immigrants
Under Financing System
Condemned in Report
Management Blamed.
BOARD MUST PAY DEBT

The attempt of the United States
Mail Steamship Company to operate a
feet OF seized German liners In COM
petition with the Cunard, White Star
and other great transatlantic passen-
ger lines ended in complete failure
yesterday when Judge Manton In the
United States District Court ordered
the ships returned forthwith to the
Government.
Albert d. Lasker. chairman of the
United States Shipping Board, an
nounced simultaneously that imme-
date steps had been taken to keep the
American flag afloat; that a syndicate
composed of three American steam
ship interests had agreed to operate
the ships for the Government without
compensation as a patriotic servlce'
that the ships would continue to san
on advertised schedule, and that the
United States would make good DEBT
of s1.2oo.000 advance money collected
from immigrants by the United states
Mail Company.
HAD the United States Mail Company
been permitted to continue in business
Ny I.asker said. "the losses would nave
mounted into immeasurable sums.
Rarely has like condition of CONNER
cial chicane been uncarthed. The re-
ceivers were shocked
Deprives Company of ships.
,.,1.s,x . -. - 80. other gbippipg
y2oard officials would say what action,
II any, viii be taken against those re-
sponsibie for the collapse Of the United
states Mail Company.
III was at the request OF the receivers
themselves. after one weeks investiga-
ton. that Judge Martin T. Manton or
dered the ships turned back. The
United states Mail Company Is left
without any ships and its only asset or
real value is a contract with the North
German Lloyd for the docks at Bremen,
Mr.. Lasker said.
The ships named in the court order
are the Agamemnon tKaiser Wilhelm
IL, Potomac (Neckar). Susquehanna
(Rhein). Mount Vernon (kronprinzessin
Cecilie). President Grant. Princess
Matoika tPrncess Alice). Pocahontas
(Prinzess Irene). George Washington
and America (Amerlka) These We're
chartered by the United States Mail
Company. Three American built vcs-
sells, which were allocated to the COM
pany also will be returned, Mr. Lasker
said. They are the Panhandle State
Old North State and Centennial State.
rsf.- Il eofr hxr Ind
ton in his chambers In the Federal
Building after long conference which
was attended by Chairman Lasker. J.
Barstow Smull, vice-president: Elmer
Schlesinger, general counsel. and W.
Marshall Bullitt OF counsel for the Ship
ping Board; Emmett J. Mccormack and
Herbert Noble, receivers for the steam
ship company; De Lancey Nicoil. Sr.
and De Lancey Nicoll Jr.. counsel for
the company; Kermit Roosevelt and
Alfred r. Ciegg. for the Roosevelt
steamship Company: w. Averill Hnrri-
man, for the United American Lines,
and A. v. Moore. for Moore & McCor-
mack.
There was then another conference in
Ar. Lasker's office at As Broadway at
which 1t was agreed that the Roosevelt.
Hartman and Moore & Mccormack
groups would shoulder the burden Of
operating the ships until the Shipping
Board can sell or charter them.
To Keep Flag Anoat.
This point had been decided and Chair
man Lasker had begun to dictate state
ment when the steamship America, out
ward bound, steamed slowly out TO sea,
in full view from the windows of the
room where her fate was being sealed.
Mr.. Lasker watched the stately liner
pick her way through the harbor traffic.
Now i can say There she Is and
there she goes" he said. Every one
smiled. Five weeks ago when the Ship
ping Board attempted TO seize the United
states Mall ships the America sailed.
protected by Injunction. and Charles r.
Mayer. one of the officials of the line,
remarked as he watched her back out
of her pier
There she Is and there she goes"
That was the beginning Of the fight
between the Government and the United
States Mail Company for possession of
the former German ships.
Mr.. Laskcr's statement was dictated
In conference with the approval of those
present. While II was being transcribed
he said TO reporters:
THE Shipping Board has kept its
prairlse TO get its ships back from the
United States Mall. and has taken steps
10 keep the American flag on the Allan
tic. No so-callcd allen shipping in
terests VIII be permitted 10 drive the
American flag from the scas--not 40
long as American citizens are willing and
able TO operate American ships for
Americans.
"Wc did not go into this 10 win a
Tight. f'c went into Il 10 keep the flag
i.noat <td to protect innocent imni-
Continued on Second Pnge.
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