The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1939-12-11


France as mine-SWeeperS.
The vessels were wooden. Ger
many's new magnetic mines ex-
plode whenever q steel ship passes
nearby( so wooden ships for use
In sweeping them up are at O pre-
MUM In Europe
Attorney General Murphy tele-
phoned personally, asking the
Coast Guard to chase the trawl-
ers and detain them II they were
still In U. 8. waters. However,
either 1t was too late, or else the
Coast Guard looked the other way,
because the trawlers now are well
on their way to France.
However, Ave other vessels pur-
chased by France have been de-
tanned, and their transfer has been
carefully scrutinized by an inter.
departmental committee. One
trawler Is at New Orleans, two
trawlers and O tug are at Bos-
ton, and one tug Is at Charleston,
8. @. All are old vessels, and the
Maritime Commission found no
American citizens interested In
buying them.
ALABAMA AWARD
Reason Attorney General Muir
ply acted with such speed was
the existence Of a criminal stat
uet against transferring to any
belligerent o vessel which 10 to
be used as warship. And these
trawlers were to become mine-
sweepers, 4. e., warships.
The statute Is based upon the
Civil War case Of the famous
man-of-war alabama, built In
English shipyards and turned
over to the Confederacy 10 raid
Union commerce. Afterward, the
United States was awarded Sl5,-
100000 for damage done TO Our
shipping. v.
Therefore the Justice Depart
ment fears that II the trawlers
are sold TO France, they might
damage Naxi vessels, and under
international law, the United
States could be held responsible.
However, the Maritime COM
mission and. the State Department
take contrary view. They believe
that old wooden vessels could not
easily damage German shipping,
and that they are TO be used TO
sweep UP mines, not prey upon
commerce.
One trouble ID that the French
Line, which n purcasing the
vessels, stated the facts with
complete honesty II listed the
ships 10 mine sweepers. II they
had been listed ~ "fishing YES.
scls", probably there would have
been no hitch In the sale.
NOTE-The trawiers are 1850
feet long and were owned by the
Portland (Me) Trawling Company,
O subsidiary Of the Atlantic Coast
Fishery Company. They were built
In 1919, are coal-burners and can
not compete with the new Diesel
trawlers.
NEW SOLICITOR GENERAL
It's @ White House secret, but
the one hitch In the elevation Of
Attorney General Murphy to the
Supreme Court vacancy has been
solved. IN PIX act
This was finding the right man
to ste pinto Bob Jackson's shoes
as Solicitor General when he
moved UP to Murphy's place as
Attorney General. The President
has found his man. ss
He a Judge Francis Biddle Of
the u 8. Court Of Appeals Of
Philadelphia, chairman Of the
old National Labor Beard and
counsel Of the 1887 iva investi-
eating committee Of Congress.
In the long history Of the fed
eral judiciary, few Appeals judg-
o. have stepped down from their
$l2.5O0 lifetime Jobs to re-enter
public life, particularly ct q
lower salary. The Solicitor Gem
eraI gets $4,000 . year. =. -.
But Biddle, age So, and one Of
the most brilliant court lawyers
in the country, Is willing. So he
has accepted Roosevelt's offer to
succeed jackson. The three APP
pointznents will no the announced
until Congress meets In January.
ANNENBERG TRIAL
Some queer things seem TO be
happening In the famous Amen
berg s5.000,000 income tax case
probably the biggest income tax
> case OF al times. '@
Though the trial Is just begin-
ming, apparently there Is going TO
b. no trial The battery Of stem