Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-09-28
COURT ASKED TO
STAY ALLIES FROM
SEEING VESSELS
Owners of Fran and Som
merstad, Through Counsel,
Move to Save Boats From
Hands of Warning Powers.

A demand to order the unloading OF
the Norwegian tramp steamboats, Fran
and Sommerstad, now lying in the Dela-
ware River, has been filed with the
United States District Court today py
Ralph NJ Bullowa, a New York attorney
representing the owners OF the VesseIs
who do not propose to have them seized
by warning powers by carrying supplies
to German men of war off the American
coast. The court has reserved an opinion
The dictagraph exposure Of the desti-
nations Of the Norwegian steamships
Fran and sommerstad now at an
chor in the Delaware River mas
disclosed the system which made
the violation of neutrality possi-
bic. owners. agents and Others are
now rushing to cover. The expose was
due to the efforts of Christian Moe.
Norwegian Consul at this port. ana
Ralph NJ. Bullowa, a New York attorney
It was in Mr.. Bulowa's office the die
tograph was installed, prior to con-
ference between the masters of the yes
sells. representatives of the HAMBURG
American Line and officials Of the inter-
American Company. Mr.. BulloWa de-
clares that the Inter-Amer. Com
pany had chartered the vessels and then
rechartered them to the Hamburg
American Company. This Is denled py
Julius 2. Meyer, director of the latter
company, who asserts that his company
to supply ships OF the line, but never
German cruisers.
Upon the advice of Mr. Moe, Captain
Axelsen. of the Sommerstad, and cap
tain Grinheim, of the Fran, consulted
Mr.. Bullowa, after notifying their own
ers, the A. F. Klaverness & Co, OF
Haugesend, Norway, and II. NJ. Wrangell
& Co.. of Christiania, Norway.
Consul Noes suspicion was first aroused
by Captain Axelscn and Captain Grinheim.
They told him they were to sail under
sealed orders and things didn't look just
right" They said that they were in duty
bound to the steamship owners TO carry
the cargOes to their destinations. but they
did not believe the owners knew anything
about the shipment Of supplies to Ger
man warships.
A few days later the captains told Mr..
Moe that agents of the Hamburg -Ameri-
can Line had sent them offers of big
bonuses tor immediate sailinEs. This was
during the time the masters of the steam
ships were awaiting advice from nome.
The advice came and told them to con-
suit an attorney. Then the conference
with the dctograph as a witness was ar
ranged
Nothing could be learned of the trans
action at the office of William j.. Grand
field and Company. %0S Walnut street, to-
day. They are the local agents for the
steamships. They declined to give the
they were acting and further refused to
affirm or deny that they knew the car
goes were meant for German cruisers
1--WE will not discuss the transaction in
| anyway" was all that was said.
The Sommerstad and Fran are two Of
six vessels with similar cargoes on board
| clared from this port by Grandhell
| & Co. The first one vas the Heina,
| which left on August 6 ostensibly for La
| Guayra 1t was reported that she had
! been captured in the act of delivering
| het cargo to a German warship. The
! Nepos sailed on August %, the John Lud-
| wig Nowinckel on September and the
| Unita on September s. On their clearance
papers their destinations were given as
| Spanish or Brazilian ports.
| Like carrying Goals to Newcastle" was
| the CARRYING OF coffee TO Brazil by these
! steamships Another suspicious incident
was the large supply Of fresh water
| taken on board. These aroused the Nor
! wegian shippers fears. They did not
| care to risk imprisonment in English or
| French prisons. but both emphatcally
declared they feared most for the prop
| erty Of their employers. Difficulty was
! experienced in getting crews for these
vessels, despite the fact that hundreds
| of sailors are out of employment.
| Arrangements are now being made for
| the discharge of the cargoes OF the FRAN
| and SOmmerstad. and in a few days
! $4,000 worth of coal and ship supplies
! which were scheduled for German war
! ships will be dumped back on one OF the
| piers and later delivered to the con-
| signOrs.