Repatriation of American Seamen

State Department: Jesse E. Saugstad, Assistant Chief, Division of International Communications; L. J. Falck, Division of International Communications; Frances Dailor, Division of International Communications.

War Department: Col. M. F. Hass, General Staff, G-4; Capt. W. D. McGraw, Transportation Corps, Services of Supply; Lt. K. P. Nelson, Transportation Corps, Services of Supply.

Navy Department: Lt. Comdr. William R. Clark, Jr., Bureau of Naval Personnel; Lt. Comdr. Harold A. Burch, Office of Naval Intelligence; C. W. Sanders, Chief of Record Section, Coast Guard.

War Shipping Administration and Maritime Commission: G. H. Helmbold, executive assistant, Division of Operations; Capt. J. F. Devlin, marine superintendent, Division of Operations; Marshall E. Dimock, Director, Recruitment and Manning Organization; James F. Grady, Director, Domestic Division, Recruitment and Manning Organization; James E. Conroy, Division of Traffic; J. L. Pimper, attorney, Legal Division.

Maritime War Emergency Board: Erich Nielsen, secretary.

National Red Cross: Howard Hamilton, assistant to National Director, military and naval welfare service, national headquarters; Miss Marybelle LaHatte, information assistant, services to the armed forces; Miss Alice M. Johnson, home service correspondent, national headquarters.

Charles Nison, National Welfare Director, United Seamen's Service, Inc.

Andrew MacDonald, Radio Officers Union, American Federation. of Labor.

Hoyt S. Haddock, legislative representative, Committee for Industrial Organizations, maritime committee:

Paul Scharrenberg, American Federation of Labor.

The CHAIRMAN. Gentlemen, a question arose the other day, in hearings on another matter before this committee, which indicated there was a problem that needed the consideration of the committee and the various departments in Washington. The matter had been

brought to the attention of different agencies of the Government and the committee felt it would serve a useful purpose if we could bring together the representatives of the different departments who were affected by the problem, or who might be considered as charged with some sort of obligation to the country to reach a solution.

My observation has been, with many of the departments in Washington, that the difficulty is in getting coordination; that each fellow is trying to do his own knitting, and to hew his own logs and, for that reason, where he comes into contact and touch with other departments, those things are much involved in a lot of red tape. The result is that when a matter must pass through the hands of A., B., C., and D., to get approval on it, it has to pass through many channels that ought to be kicked overboard now. The problem should be handled by direct call over the telephone, or some way as in ordinary business. I thought this committee might help to solve that problem by asking all of you gentlemen to come together and exchange your views.

The problem confronting us is the repatriation of American seamen. Recently we held a hearing on a bill introduced by Mr. Walter, to provide for the issuance of a device in recognition of the services of merchant sailors. In the course of that hearing testimony was given to the effect there existed a rather serious problem of repatriation of American seamen affecting not only torpedoed seamen and wrecked seamen, but other American seamen who were in foreign countries. The problem was the proper procedure to return these seamen to this country.

Information came to the committee that the State Department was willing to help, but did not have the money; also that other departments were needing money for repatriation purposes. If they had no money, still the men ought to be brought back here and, if these seamen are hungry and sick, the proper officials of the Government should bring that situation to the attention of the Congress.

One question was asked which elicited the information that some of the men brought back were compelled to sleep on steel decks and without medical attention; there was testimony that some of these seamen do not receive appropriate attention while in foreign countries. Of course, I know that many of these wrecks occur at places where the seaman reaches the shore in out-of-the-way places, where the Government does not have machinery in existence to reach them. The result is that there must be delay. We want to get them out of those remote localities if we can, and we deserve the help of all of the departments. If legislation is needed, we wish to know it and to have your aid in preparing the legislation. If appropriations are needed we desire your help in obtaining the necessary appropriations and we wish to avoid delays in the Bureau of the Budget. I do not care whether the Bureau of the Budget approves such an appropriation or not. If I can get the necessary information to sustain such an appropriation I will try to get it any way I can. I know the limitations imposed on you gentlemen, but if the information can come to me in some way, I am not subject to those limitations and the committee is not subject to those limitations.

Now, Mr. Haddock, as long as the hearing we are holding this morning is predicated upon information that was brought before the com

mittee when you were last here, we will hear you first as to any statement you have to make.

I will add that you and I both know that there exists the United Seamen's Service and that it has in contemplation the care of American sailors. In my own opinion, and I think in the opinion of this committee, it is a splendid organization. It is an organization the seamen are setting up themselves, and we want to work with them. I think they are going to do a great work. But the existence of that organization does not relieve the United States Government of the responsibility which rests upon the Government.

All right, Mr. Haddock.

STATEMENT OF HOYT S. HADDOCK, LEGISLATIVE REPRESENTATIVE, CONGRESS OF INDUSTRIAL ORGANIZATIONS, MARITIME COMMITTEE, WASHINGTON, D. C.

Mr. HADDOCK. Mr. Chairman, I did not prepare any statement, but I have a few letters here and statements of seamen from which I want to read. First is a communication to Capt. Edward Macauley from Joseph Curran, dated September 21:

A few days ago I received a communication from you regarding uniforms for seamen. The contents of that letter, as I wrote you, are being transmitted to the membership for an expression of opinion, which will be forwarded to you. However, the question of uniforms is secondary to our prime objective of caring for the welfare of the merchant seamen, who are in some instances being seriously neglected.

I wish to call to your attention the incident of the Chateau Thierry, Army transport, which has just returned, bringing back some 53 of our seamen, who had been stranded in various African and other ports as a result of being torpedoed. Some of these men were very ill, and other seriously injured.

The CHAIRMAN. Can you supply the dates there, so that we can get some idea when it was?

Mr. HADDOCK. This was written September 21. I can supply the date on that, I think.

The CHAIRMAN. That is September 21 of this year?

Mr. HADDOCK. Yes, sir. I have the information here.

The CHAIRMAN. You can supply that later?

Mr. HADDOCK. Yes. The letter continues:

According to the reports that I have received from the men themselves, the treatment that was accorded them was disgraceful. It should serve to make us immediately redouble our efforts to insure proper treatment for the merchant seamen from now on.

The Chateau Thierry carried 53 seamen who were to be repatriated. They were placed in the 'tween deck on board ship, completely lacking in any comforts, and in some cases they did not even receive blankets. They report that the food was absolutely intolerable. Injured and sick men were given little, if any, attention. Yet there were, as I understand it, about 200 empty rooms on the ship throughout the voyage.

The CHAIRMAN. Right there, that is one of the things we were told, that they were not given accommodations on the steamer, a transport, as I recall, yet they had vacant rooms on there.

Mr. HADDOCK. That is correct.

Mr. O'LEARY. Is the Chateau-Thierry an Army transport?

Mr. HADDOCK. It is an Army transport, sir.

The men feel that their sacrifices are being capitalized on by people who have absolutely no interest in their welfare. I am certain that you, who have been

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