The sole restriction on disposition of the ships wag that they can not be transferred to belligerents without the President's specific consent. The Jow and executive order became effective at 11 am. ES, Ships affected by. more" than 100. including Danish, Ballan and German vessels already taken into custody.
Maritime Commission sources said that no crews were ready to take over the vessels which will" be placed in the 2,000,000 ton emergency pool for national defence and ald-To. Britain purposes.
The French vessels included the giant liner Normandie, and there were also some Balkan, Scandinavian and Baltic vessels which will be Taken over. The Maritime Commission was empowered to. purchase, requisition or charter any immobiliz. ed. vessels considered necessary to national defence, but Presidential approval would be required to transfer, charter or lease them to any. belligerent Government.
The Maritime Commission was @irected to make due compensation owners. It was believed that a purchase agreement will be made with owners of Danish ships. Most of the Mahan ships sabotaged by their crews were already being repaired.
It was expected that the Normandie, if requisitioned, would be con verted into a transport. The 1 tankers falling under the order were sorely needed as a result of the assignment of $0 US, tankers fo Britain—United Press.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.