New-York tribune., 1921-02-23
,errlla1ls Seen
IN Control of
British Ships
crsIisl, Publication Says
sale Terms of Ex-Enerny
tonnage Give Teutons
Chance to Regain Vessels
f,u Operate Under Cover
l,u,ouaaged Firms Could
Be Formed by Foreigners
% Run Boats, 1t Is Said

q Run Boats, 1t Is Said
81 r.t q Is possible FOR Germany tc
q ...,o, and secretly operate under thu
ssssh DAG ex-Germsn steamers seized
a a ,ss Allies, is the declaration of the
i r.,lsh shipping weekly. Fairplay.
4 s.isr The camoufage OF British com
3 ssy ii is declared, Germans could
I. heir former vessels in competition
Il N tbe country that has received the
q In. Is part of the war reparaaons.
a fbe British government has been of
..,irr the seized German steamers fer
& IL and has sold about third of
Ia. offered, but rapid disposal Of the
,.ssge has been interfered with By
4 4 depression prevailing in shipping
u the surplus of tonnage throughout
i, world resulting from the failure
tforeign trade TO expand normalls, as
Id been looked for.
a good deal Of interest" says Fair
IW lis naturally being taken by ship
ssssrs in this country and abroad in
4 pyices realized for the ex-German
s,sxsrs, and in the names of the pur-
,aassrs, bat the authorities are doing
I ,tsr best TO prevent this information
fsn leaking out.
Says Foreigners Can Buy
n
q. was at first thought that the yes
ID; vuuid only be sold to British ma
aonals, or to companies which were
ysusd or controlled by persons of
British nationality, and this was CON
srned by the statement in all the ad-
rss.iseaents Offering the vessels for
ae
According TO the terms of the Brit
la merchant shipping act, no foreign
IN are permitted 20 own, directly or
riirsetly, share in a British ship,
md during the war the sale of a large
,anbeg OF boats owned by British
snpanies was refused OH the ground
Sst the money for the purchase was
sing provided by foreigners.
But what do we find now? Notwith-
aRdiag that ex-enemy steamers were
aaded over TO this country TO re-
aburse US for the losses sustained
adag the war, foreigners are, being
Aessd to acquire them at the very
Is prices now current, and to form
sning companies here, the vesRels
zsg chartered to them at presumably
Irent losing rates for the purpose
itrsding between foreign ports.
Bow Germany Could Work
Accordingly, it is possible for Ger.
nan shpowners to contract with IL
nm 10 neighboring country, in
Enieh they have confidence, to arrange
nth people here TO form a British
company to acquire steamers owned
or built for them before or during the
va wa! u Germany, and TO run them in
tleiI Old trades, to compete with Brit
l'd frnis. who may have started lines
. capture those trades.
g The government is thus allowing
Me'gners, including eur ex-enenies.
siqulre steamers and run them
adet the British Gag, why not slter
ss advertisements and openly an
ounce that the provisions in the
ae'shant shipping act are dead let
Aand that any one will be permitted
ssfarehase the ex-enemy craft on con-
lloa that they retain them under our
~ IN order that any profit that may
made shall be subject to British
aane tax We all know the diff
aaes which may be experiences in
aspesinC of such block of tonnage
y m'l present time, but is that fact
" Justification for allowing foreign.
acquire any portion of it on
Tparently the same terms as British
I, Although reports that the United
Ales Mail Steamship Company would
Me the ex-German liners under its
ssfoi repaired in German yards npye
sa denied here several times. Fair
say publishes letter from HAMBURG
As'tlng that all arrangements have
.a made for the work to be done
Teuson Contracts Alleged
me high cost of repairs in North
MI. .'can yards, which, at the present
sss,s sss OF the international freighting
,.sn;s, a;sss, place in doubt the profit.
sng capacity of the American
~ s''' a.. says the Hamburg correspond.
NJ, eaave pave caused the United States
sse. steamship Company to close con.
.s With German yards for repairs /
IA IaSs,uernlan asa aaa ships to the amount Of
4, .aat sums at present are REQUIRED
= lspairing work in American wards |
,.,aavn savWn by the fact that lately the |
Of the ex-German steamer |
3 ssl asn oa 1iay required far more than
s,ee,u s,esv,vVu and the rebuilding of The
;s.I ;sIps,man =, steamer Aeolus for oil |
.asr g, ,a,750,00O. A oi'
g.aae aae United States Mail Steamship
M sliTfany, which in the past year. # /
sr,4.o un % remembered, entered into an |
yIsvssnent yIsss with the North German
ssS aaa is operating a passenger
,1s Ipssgo service between New YORK
Gs,nsa asenen With awnumber of ex- /
~, sa steamers which were handed |
f,,s she Shipping Board, has there |
aougnt It advisable TO order the !
Csrsssssy Csr@ssy repairs of these ships in
s,eosas com yards at an expense which. an |
ssshsa 81 the German standard Of
is extremely low. Moreover
ssia.0 70 be considered that ali these /
:sst :ts pave been built in GERMANY and i
ssss ss sss renewals and repairs can be |
aermany." ~ saiiiea OUT