GERMAN SHIPS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 90, Issue 57, 11 March 1946, Page 5

GERMAN SHIPS

TRANSFER TO ALLIES London, March 3. Britain, Russia and the United States have approved proposals to divide the German merchant marine equally among the vessels is at present taking place. This was announced in a statement issued in London, Washington, and Moscow. The gross registered tonnage totals 11,896,000, worth more than £20,000,000 sterling. Brita n and America will make appropriate allotment from their shares to Allied countries .whose merchant marine suffered heavy wartime losses, including France, Belgium, Greece, Norway Yugoslavia, and Holland. Russia will similarly provide lor Pel and.

A statement issued in London through the Freign Office says that the division was agreed on at a conference among the Powers in the middle of last year. A tripartite merchant marine commission was then constituted and met at Berlin from September 1, to December 7, 1945, to prepare plans. Its reports recommenced that the fleet should be shared c«n the basis of valuation of tonnage at 1938 building prices, after makihf. allowance lor depreciation. Germany woud be permitted to retain 2C0.G00 deadweight tons, consisting entirely of ships of under 2250 tons for the maintenance of Germany’s peace economy. The Foreign Office added that the German fishing fleet, dredgers, port facilities, and inland waters transport would be the subject of a separate announcement. The ‘Daily Mail’s naval correspondent says that Britain has received 93 cargo ships, 17 cargo liners, eight passenger shq s, 11 tankers, eight tugs, and 11 uncompleted vessels. The United States gets 167, and Russia 183 vessels of various types. Among the modern liners assigned to Britain are the 17,000-tonners Potsdam. Pretoria, and Milwaukee. The United States gets the 50,000-tonner Europa.