Evening star., 1939-08-26
War Crisis Disrupts
Steamship Service
In North Atlantic
Insurance Rotes Rise;
Americans Stampede
Overtuxes Vessels
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
NEW YORK, Aug 26.-Steam-
ship service in the North Atlantic
today was in its most disrupted
state since the World War.
Most commercial vessels flying the
Nazi swastika were racing to Ger
many under imperative orders from
Berlin. Polish ships were warned
by their government to stand by in
neutral ports and avoid the North
Sea. Italian liners hugged home
harborS.
For the second time in a week,
war-risk insurance rates were in
creased on cargoes destined for
Italy and Germany and merchandise
shipped in vessels of those countries.
The minimum rate for cargoes
destined for axis-power ports and
carried in axis-controlled ships was
raised to $40 per $l00 valuation,
compared with SIS rate set Thurs
day. Marine underwriters pointed
out the rates are subject to with
drawal without notice.
Capacity Overtaxed.
A stampede by many of the SO 900
Americans abroad to get home over
taxed the capacity of available ships.
1t appeared weeks would be re-
quired to transport them to the
war fears should reduce the pressure
for immediate passage.
The German liner Hansa was re-
ported in the English Channel,
steaming toward home after turn
ing back on a scheduled trip to New
York. The Europa was in mid
ocean bound for Germany.
Despite the general order for
German ships to stay in harbors or
return home. Berlin steamship Of
fcialS said the liner Bremen, in mid
ocean with hundreds of Americans
and other passengers, would proceed
to New York and dock there Monday
as scheduled.
Two German liners. however, re-
manned in New York's harbor. They
were the St. Louis, scheduled to sail
today for Bermuda, and the New
York, scheduled to leave next
Wednesday for Germany.
John Schroeder, resident director
Of the Hamburg American and North
German Lloyd Lines, insisted the
ships would maintain their sched-
ules, and that he had received no
word they were to be sent home pre-
maturely.
Italian Sailings Cancelled.
Italy Cancelled sailings of all its
ships scheduled to leave for America
last night. The Conte di Savoia
remained at Genoa and the Saturnia
at Trieste. Some of the $50 Amer
leans scheduled to sail on the Satur-
MIA took trains for France.
The French Lines Normandie and
the Degrasse were en- route to New
York, the lie de France and Cham
plain to Havre.
Many ships otherwise available to
bring stranded Americans home
were on luxury cruises to the West
Indies and South America.
Many British vessels, including
the Queen of Bermuda, New York
to-Bermuda liner, were ordered to
England, some for possible use as
troop ships. The Cunard White Star
Lines Queen Mary. speed cham
pion of the Atlantic lanes, was more
than two days out of New York.
bound for England and expected to
remain there if the war crisis lasts.
Others Delayed.
The English-owned Anchor Line
Cancelled Glasgow sailings of the
Caledonia and California for New
York.
Although one American cruiser
and two destroyers were in European
waters, the State Department said it
did not intend to use naval vessels
for repatriation work except to reach
citizens stranded in isolated places.
Diplomatic officials expressed be-
lief all the Americans abroad could
return home on American flag line
ships, although perhaps not as rap
idly as some might wish.