Evening star., 1940-12-22
Rest Of Laid-Up Fleet
To Be Commissioned
By Maritime Board
Lost 20 Vessels Expected
To Be Made Ready for
Transfer to Britain
By WILLIAM j. WHEATLEY.

by Js HHLfA
The Maritime Commission has de-
cided to recondition and place in
commission all the vessels remain
ing In it's laid-up fleet, it was learned
last night. Twenty ships will be left
in this group, after the "a offered
for sale last week are disposed OF,
and 1t is expected these latter will
be bid in by British interests to
help fill the gap in Britain's sea
supply line made by the German
submarine, air and surface attack.
Although it is said the commits
sion plans to use the 20 remaining
vessels for spot" assignments to
keep the export business from jam
ming up at American ports, it was
emphasized there is no indication
Of clogging at present. With British
sea losses continuing at heavy
rate. it is believed the commission
move to place the vessels in active
commission is plan to have them
in condition for quick transfer to
the British flag, rather than wait
to dispose of them by sale with re-
sultant loss of time in getting them
reconditioned.
1t was estimated from three to six
months will be required to fit the
vessels for service. This, it was ex-
planned, is because it will not be
possible to place them in any ship
yards Immediately, due to construc-
ton facilities being engaged in con-
ditioning vessels already purchased
by Great Britain and in work for
the United States Navy and Army.
Overhauled 3 Years Ago.
These remaining ships in the laid
up fleet, like the others, were given
a general overhauling about three
years ago and their machinery coat
ed in grease. In addition to remov-
ing this grease and putting the YES
sels in drydock to have their bot
toms scraped and painted, the YES
sells need some additional auxiliary
machinery.
These ships are the only vessels
which could be transferred imme-
diately to Great Britain. None of
the ships being built by the Mari
time Commission for its own account
or for American shipping companies
can be transferred to belligerent
nations registry under present stat
utes. All must be constructed for
a particular route, with a particu-
lar service in mind at the time they
are authorized. Neither, it was ex-
planned, can the shipping COM
panies sell their vessels for belliger-
ent registry, under the terms of the
present statutes.
Establishment of Army and Navy
outposts far from the continental
shores of the United States will
require supply line of ships. This
may necessitate the two military
branches taking over some of the
cargo ships the Maritime Commits
sion will place in commission. 1t
perhaps would not be considered
desirable to weaken the fleet by
removing auxiliary supply ships in
order to maintain supply lines Ito
the outposts.: --ss.s'~ssse-
Some Already Taken Over.
Reports of the Bureau of Marine
Inspection and Navigation on docu-,
mented vessels removed from the
merchant marine show that the
Army already has taken over the
President Jefferson and the Presi-
dent Mckinley from the American
Mail Line. The Army also has
taken over the old German liner
America, seized during the last war,
for service as a naval transport.
This vessel was one Of the four
which laid for years in the Patuxent
River at Solomon's Island, Md, and
now is fitting out at Brooklyn. as
transport She has been renamed
the Edmond B. Alexander, and the
latest plans call for her to be used
in transporting the forces which
will garrison the Newfoundland out
post. In addition to taking troops
and equipment there, it was an
nounced she is to remain there for
use as barracks until permanent
quarters can be constructed.
During the last month, Bureau
Of Marine Inspection and Naviga-
ton reports show the Navy has
taken out of the merchant marine
the tanker ESQ Richmond, from
the Standard Oil Co., the freighter
Normanchawk, from the Moore
Mccormick Lines, and II tugs and
trawlers, the latter probably for use
as mine sweepers and off-shore pa
troll boats.