owners of the Washington, declined to comment on the order for the preparation of the vessel for sailing.
The order was received late last night from Washington where Mr. John M. Franklin, president of the US. Lines, is conferring with officials of the U.S, Maritime Commission.
The United States -has sufficient tonnage in the Pacific to take care of approximately 15,000 Americans in the Far East who are expected to respond to the State Department's "suggestion" for evacuation.
The Washington can be made ready for a voyage in a few days and probably will sail on Thursday or earlier if workmen are able to accelerate the task of placing extra sleeping facilities im public rooms.
Maritime Commission officials yesterday revealed that negotiations were progressing with the United States Lines for the purpose of using the largest liners in the American merchant marine for evacuating Americans from the Far East if an emergency should arise.
Shipping quarters pointed cut that the Manhattan, which is tied up here, could be used in an emergency as could the newly-completed America.
In the event of am extreme emergency, U.S, Navy and Army transport vessels could be pressed into service for the purpose of speeding the evacuation, the. shipping quarters [United Press.
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Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.