The New York herald., 1922-10-10
MARITIME COMMITTEE
CONFERS IN LIVERPOOL
TODAY TO TAKE ACTION
British Shipping Inclined to
Divert Traffic to Canadian
Ports as Far as Possible.

Special CdbIe TO TIIE NEW YORK HERALD.
Copyright, 1929, by THE New YORK HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau.
London. Oct. 0.
The international Maritime Com
mittee, meeting in Liverpool to-mor-
row, is determined to take up with the
Board of Trade their legal position in
respect to Attorney General Daugh-
erty's liquor ruling.
Meanwhile the Strand in London
has been thrown into utter confusion
as the American "hipper" trade Is ex-
tended to Albions shores. No ship
ping officials here yet have received
definite orders to close their bars.
But Americans thinking of returning
are taking no chances. They are buy
ing private supplies here, and buying
TASKS to carry it into the dining rooms
of English as we'll as American liners
that they may see the saddest burial
the sea ever recorded-jettisoning the
contents of smoking rooms and bars.
One man was arrested in Kingsway
to-day and sent up for mental observa-
ton because he insisted he was In the
smoking room OF the Homeric. which
sailed Wednesday.
Impossible to Intervene.
Board of Trade officials were silent
regarding the prospective application OF
prohibition to transatlantic lines. Pri-
vately, however, they say 1t will be I'M
possible for the British Government to
intervene. In consequence the general
belief is that when 1t Is once settled
that British ships cannot carry liquor
into New York all of them will adopt
Halifax or st. John as port OF call on
both inward and outward voyages. 1t Is
generally admitted that II Will be i'm
possible for the great lines to abandon
New York entirely as a terminal point.
However, the lines may like to do so
they are bound up by pier leases and
other agreements on port handling that
would make II necessary for the ships to
call at New York.
Likewise it Is generally admitted as
impossible to have vessels off shore from
which returning supplies could be re-
ceived. In a southwest gale off Sandy
Hook is no place to tranship such fragile
things as bottles. one official told THE
NEW YORK HERALD correspondent. The
only line not affected is the Canadian
faClllc, WHOSE OIIlCldlS tO-udy were
wearing a sdesplitting grin. They have
been conducting an extensive advertising
campaign to tell people that via Canada
is the best way to reach the United
States.
The George Washington of the United
States Lines, calling at Southampton
Wednesday, will be the first American
ship to sail since the order was received.
But officials of the United States Lines
say they have no orders yet. and as far
as they know the George Washington
is leaving Bremerhaven with the usual
complement OF choice Pilsener and
German bottled French wines. They ad-
NIT with tears in their eyes that they
will have nothing to say II orders are
received while George is In midocean. to
commit all the stun to Davy Joness
locker.
saddest Moment of His Life.
But Gus" the smoking room steward
of the George Washington. on leave in
London during the present voyage, told
THE NEW YORK HERALD correspondent
IL was the saddest moment of his life.
Look here" he wept. Il lost my job
In the Knickerbocker bar. and walked
the streets two years, and then got
Job again. And now blooie! What
Gamma guy dor
The Cunard Line exchanged many
wireless messages to-day and yesterday
with the Berengaria, approaching New
York, but finally she was instructed to
follow the usual procedure with excep-
tional care. seal all liquor upon crossing
the three mile limit, and brave the law
as 1t developed while the ship was In
port.
Booking agents say a considerable
rush developed over the week end among
tourists anxious to return before the or
der goes into effect. II compelled to
make Halifax port of call on all trips
for the sake OF maintaining the social
amenities OF the voyage all trips will be
DELAYED twenty-four hours and the
English business community already is
beginning to protest against such de-
lay In its business mall Whatever the
conference tomorrow may decide. off,
cials here are united In saying that IL
will be useless to try to run ships with
out some liquor. The United states
Lines though refusing to comment off,
cially, privately admit It will ruin their
business here.