The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-08-18
No Offer Yet. Declares Off
cial. but RumOr Quotes
Prices.
AMERICAN LINE MAY
Buy TWO STEAMSHIPS
Said to Be Negotiating for
Hamburg-American
Liners.

IN an official statement made public
manager OF Oerichs 4 Co, general
agent. O.! the North German Lloyd Steam
shlp company announced that the COM
many Is ready and has been willing at all
times 10 sell any or all of its ships, pro-
yiding that the offers are satisfactory
He denied however the reports that any
offers had been made to the line or tina,
any OPTIONS for the sale OF any particular
ships had been given.
Mr Won Helmolts statement was called
firth by reports that had been curren,
regarding the proposed sale by the North
German Lloyd Line OF certain steamers
now tied up by the war In Hoboken and
other American ports The reports fol-
lowed the announcement by officials OF
the Hamburg American Line on Saturday
that bonande offers for certain OF that
company's ships now In American waters
were being considered.
NJ won Helmolt's statement follows:
The steamers OF the North Ger
man Lloyd are for sale to-day the
same as they were at this time last
week last month or last year. They
are for sale the same as Is any piece
OF property In New York or elsewhere.
II an offer il made which is salts
factory. We will sell any ships we
own In other words, all ships are
FOR sale II We can dispose of them at
proft--but only on that condition.
The published statement that a price
has been quoted, either for the fleet
In It's entirety or any OF the Individual
ships is absolutely incorrect. No OPP
tons have been given TO any one on
the sale Of the North German Lloyd
steamers
As far as the steamers OF the North
German Lloyd being ION the market
Is concerned they are no more "on
the market to-day than they have
always been. Ii has not been I'M
usual in the past for this company
TO sell its steamers TO other com
panies or to other Governments.
Despite the official declara lion that th'
North German Lloyd Line steamers are
not, in a sense. ''on the market any more
now than they have always been. rurnor;
persisted that certain of the ships couic
BE- purchased for certain prices.
Some Of the selling prices which were
quoted in the rumOrS were as follows:
Kronprinzessin Cecilie. S4,5O0.0OO: kai-
ser Wilhelm H., Si.OOO.O00 George Wash
,,gton. $500, 900; Princess Irene. $1,000
ndO: Gros.er kurfuerst, 100000; Bar
barossa, 81 zoe. 900 Friedr ch der Crosse
$1,000. 600 Brandenburg. s750,0OO; Koln
$3.50. OO0; Kronprinz Wilhelm, s3.500.00O
Wttekind, $500, 900, and Willehad. $780,
900.
The North German LlJyds Pacific fleet
consists of these ships: Princess Allce
Yorke. R0hn. Bulow, Lu;zow, Kleist Seyd
lit2 and priuZ Eitel Friedrich. IL is said
that they are valued at S5,000,OOO.
Mr. Won Helmot had "A conference with
officials of the Hamburg American Line
late yesterday afternoon. Both sides re-
fused 10 discuss the conference.
The Kronprinz Wilhelm steamed out OF
New York several days ago W tn bis
cargo of coal. She has not been reported
and her whereabouts are yelled IN mys-
terry.
Among other reports current yesterday
Of activities in the steamship market
was one to the effect that the American
Line. which has four ships only. Is plan
ming to buy two steamships from the
Hamburg American Line. Wee Directoi
Sickel OF the Hamburg American Lin.
would not discuss the matter. II vas said
however that an official statement will b.
issued to-day.
Ms understood that negotiations pend
ing for the purchase of certain Hamburg
American Line ships are being held NJ
TO await thu final drafting of the act t
admit foreign built ships to American
register.
Lorenzo Semplc, an authority on inter
national law. said yesterday that accord
Ing TO the Declaration of London. mad
in 1909 foreign ships purchased by al
American concern even with authorit'
from our Government to fly the American
flag would b. liable to seizure. a priz'
court, following this declaration. he said
would decide that the ships could b.
seized There is no international code oil
this uoint