Who Will Buy?

The Shipping Board carried out its program drawn up two weeks ago and announced the terms on which it will receive bids for the restricted sale of its entire merchant fleet. These bids will be opened on May 28. Meanwhile it also announced the regrouping of its lines into 18 routes, twelve operating from the Atlantic and Gulf ports and six from the Pacific Coast. The terms of the bidding are: " The bidder must specify the names of the ships he desires to purchase, the price offered and terms of payment, the route over which he will undertake to maintain service, the charter, frequency and extent of service, period of time for which he will guarantee maintenance of service and the nature and terms of the guarantee."

The Board in turn, agrees not to compete directly or indirectly on the routes sold, or to sell or charter ships for competition. It reserves the right to reject all bids. In case it does not sell out--and it is not expected to be able to do so--it will operate the vessels itself.