The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-12-03
HOOKING AND GENESSEE
SEIZED II TRIAL.
Britain Will Use U. S. Ships Pending Decision by Prize
Court Despite Protest-May Transfer Cases to
London, Which Means Long Delay.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 2.-Great Britain
has commandeered both the Hooking
and Genessee, American registered
steamships. according to information
Department to-day by representatives
OF the American Transatlantic Steamship
Company. This information was based on
cable dispatches from st. Lucia. British
West indies, where the Oenessee was
seased, and from Halifax. ". s.. where
the Hooking Is held up. Action In both
cases follows . protest by this Govern
ment.
A despatch received from Consul
Young at Halifax this evening confirmed
the taking over of the Hooking.
Al q conference with Mr.. Polk this
afternoon the company was represented
BY John Hannah. secretary to Senator
La Toilette Of Wisconsin. and Walter
5. Field. a local attorney. They told the
Counsellor that the Crown Counci at
~. Lucia went before the prise court
yesterday afternoon. then sitting as an
admiralty court, and without reference
to the prize court proceedings under
n " uttCIsIllflC - Va N"S
Genessee offered bond to the amount of
f46 900 t9225 .0o0) to cover the value
OF the ship In case the prize court
proceedings showed that she was not
enemy owned. Upon this representation.
II was stated, the court granted an order
Of reQuisttion and the Crown Council
then moved to have the prize court pro-
ceedings transferred to London. The
American crew was ordered on the ship
and placed In care Of the American
Consul. except the captain and trst
mate. who were arrested az material
witnesses. Tit company is not ad-
vised as to the disposition OF the Genes
sees cargo of coal. owned by Swift d
Co.. the Chicago packers. which was
being unloaded at the time the vessel
was Communicated. Officials OF the
company. said Mr.. Hannah. understand
that the British authorities also intend
to requisition the coal.
No Bond for HOckinG.
Tho company's representatives told
Mr.. Polk that the Hooking had been
Communicated without any bond being
offered. As In the case OF the Genessee
the captain and first oficer were held
az witnesses and the crew were allowed
forty -eight hours to leave the ship.
ht1oie ufh ~ NJ
Field the only ground which ppears
to have been given In either case was
that the Britain Government needed the
ships. the question of ownership being
left in allegiance pending "A decision OF
the prize court. Both men contended
that by this action the British Govern.
men; not only has acted contrary to all
international law in communicating a
vessel before IL had been condemned as
n nrfS- h,e chat cha ADMIRALTY Tntlrf's
decisions were contrary to a previous
ruling. They said thaS this was made
possible BY a change OF rules on the
part Of the British Government. Last
March, they informed Mr. Polk. when
q similar effort was made to comandeeT
the steamer Antares. Sir Samuel Evans.
head OF the main admiralty court in
London. overruled the action, holding
that a ship could not be Communicated
until condemned n opportunity given
her owners to appeal. The .An.ares was
a Norwegian ship carrying contraband
copper when seized. She was released
following the ruling Of Sir Samuel.
Appraisal Too Low.
Mr.. Field also said that tho bond Of
IS 1000 pounds sterling. offered on the
Genessee. would not cover half of the
ships value at this time, when. regard
less Of price. il is impossible to replace
a vessel under a years time. The Gen
essee had a tonnage Of 600. In the
Gaze of the Hooking the order Of requisi-
ton was issued subject 10 a subsequent
appraisement.
The representatives OF the company
admit that the owners might at any time
during the prize court proceedings ask
for Il reappra!sement, but TO do so be-
fore final judgment on the ownership
question was rendered would lie tanta-
noun, TO an admission that the British
Government had n right TO commander
the ships. they say. on the other hand
a reeppraisement later on might be rem.
dered impossible II the vessels were sunk
IN the meantime.
The company's representatives said
they had been advised that similar action
by the British authorities had been or
was about TO be taken with regard
TO the Kankakee OF the same lirc, cap
tured by the British of Montevideo. She