New-York tribune., 1915-03-08
NEUTRALITY SQUAD
IS EMPTY-HANDED
No Contraband Reported
Found on German Yes
sells at HObOken.
VATERLAND, COALING,
CLOSELY EXAMINED
No Dash to Sea Attempted
Teutons Resent Vigil, but Ma
lone Says 1t Is Impartial.

After an all night search and vigil
aboard the fourteen interned steam
ships of the North German Lloyd and
the Hamburg American Line, in Ho-
boken, the neutrality SQUAD consist
ing of twenty customs inspectors and
number of federal agents. apparently
had not found any contrah.ad IN the
shape of munitions of war
Nor had any of the German ships at
tempted the dash into the Atlantic
which the Collector of the Port had
been informed would be made under
cover of the dreary weather conditions
on Saturday.
The Vaterland, of the Hamburg
American Line, and the George wash
ington. of the North German Lloyd, re-
ceived special attention from the
searchers, because it had been rumored
that these two vessels, which are the
largest and fastest of the German ships
interned in this country, would be
among the first to make the dash Tor
the open sea. Every nook from bow TO
stern was examined closely by the ofh-
GERS. The crews quarters were turned
upside down in an effort TO discover
the hidden contraband which was re-
ported to bnve been taken aboard the
vessels
Coaling the Vaterland.
A large force was busy coaling the
Vaterland yesterday. This was az
mitted by the officers. who said the
liner needed the coal for heating and
lighting.
While the federal agents refused to
talk for publication, it was learned
from members of the crews that noth-
ing incriminating had been found, and
that no arrests had been made. IL
was learned that the customs men
have instructions to remain on the
German docks for some time, in order
20 keep a close watch over any Illegal
activities which might occur on the
piers or on the steamships.
Rear-Admiral Usher, Of the Brook
lvn Navy Yard, yesterday stated that
he had not received instructions from
the Navy Department to assign war
ships to patrol duty at the mouth OF
New York Harbor to enforce neutral =
itv on outgoing vessels. lie added,
however, that steps had been taken by
his department to watch the piers OF
ALI Of the transatlantic steamship
companies for any indications of vio-
lations Of neutrality.
This method, the admiral declared,
was lust as effective and not as COM
plicated as the policing Of the mouth
of the harbor by warshlps. IL was
admitted at the navy yard however,
that warships were constantly kept
under steam and could be rushed at a
moments notice in pursuit OF any
ship attempting to violate the neu-
trality of the port.
Officers and men Of the German
lines keenly feel the strain Of the sur
veillance to which they are subjected,
and resent the suspicion which Is d.
rected toward them.
"Why are the Germans always made
the scapegoats ?" queried the captain
Of one of the liners. steamships Of
the allies clearing this port" he
added. SHOULD be the objects of rigid
examination by the officers. Interest
ing disclosures would be the result II
such examinations were carried out IN
a fair and impartial spirit"
He refused to explain the nature OF
the disclosures, stating that they
would be made public sooner or later.
Among the German tars promenad-
ing along Hoboken's Sunday dry
riverfront yesterday the visit OF the
federal officers was the topic Of lively
discussion. They resented the prylng
into their affairs and contended that
the ships were in theory German SOIL
and could not be molested.
MANY of the men believe that some
of the ships will clear in the near
future for South American ports, where
German commerce has not suffered
much from the effects Of the war An
officer of the North German Lloyd.
when asked about this new phase, said:
Won't Risk Liners Now.
For the present our ships will re-
main where they are. 1t would be folly
for us 10 risk them while the high seas
are infested with raiders of our enc
mics. When the time comes for our
fleet to depart. the proper authorities
will be notified in accordance with law.
Whether we decide 10 send ships to
South America or TO South Africa is o.
no moment. They are our property,
and we are privileged 10 do WIN them
what we please.
III would not be a violation OF the
neutrality laws of this country If they
were 10 sail to-day, loaded to the water
line with ammunition and guns. Is not
every ship sailing for the countries Of
our enemies carrying large quantities
of ammunition and materials Of war
WHY should we not have the same
privilege ?"
Dudley +. Malone, Collector Of the
Port, said yesterday that the neutral
ity squad which is examining steam
ships under his supervision had not
confined its efforts 20 vessels OF Austrian
or German registry. and declared that
all foreign vessels in this port would
be watched impartislly.
"There Is no special reason for an
tigation of any ship OF any ma
tionality," he said. The situation