New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-01-29
BRITISH TO SEIZE
WILHELMINA CARGO
England Bent on ReverS-
ing Herself and Making
Food COntraband.
BERNSTORFF GIVES
GUARANTEE IN VAIN
Owner of Dacia Buying Ward
Liners N0w-TWO Interned
German Ships Sold.

London, Jan. 2S. IL is said i'm a high
quarter that there has been no decision
reached regarding the Wilhelmina. II
is certain that the ship will be stopped
By British warships. however. if for
no other reason than that decision OF
the government as to whether food
shall be permitted 10 20 through is
being awaited
1t is highly improbable that the Will
helmina's cargo Of foodstufs will ever
be permitted to go to Germany. II is
reported in this evenings papers that
Count Won Bernstorff has assured the
Washington government that no food
going from America 70 Germany will
be seized for military or other pur-
poses. While there can be no official
utterance on this diplomatic assur-
ance. Of which the government here is
unaware, II is conceded as extremely
doubtful if the British government will
accept Germany's pledges.
The treatment of food as contrabsnd
is becoming an important subject, in
volving questions Of serious import
both 10 America and the Allies. There
are indications here that there will be
strong fight within the British gov
eminent on the subject. with the mill
tary authorities pressing for a declara
tion of food as absolute contraband,
and with Sir Edward Grey standing out
against such a declaration on account
of his previous statement of policy TO
the contrary. The military people will
contend that the circumstances Justify
such unprecedented action as making
food absolute contraband. which would
mean the stoppage of every American
food cargo shipped to Germany.
Count Won Bernstorif. German Am
bassador to the United States. has
guaranteed that the cargo OF food
stuffs on board the American steam
ship Wilhelmina, now on the high seas
bound for Hamburg. Germany, will not
reach the German government or ITS
naval or military forces.
The guarantee was given at the So
licitation of attorneys for the W. l..
Green Commission Company. OF st.
Louis. shippers of the cargo, who fear
seizure Of the ship by war vessels OF
the Allies. and 'desire, they say, TO De
free from suspicion that they have
sent the foodstufs for any other pur-
pose than for sale to the civil popula-
ton.
Count Won Bernstorff's letter, con
tanning the guarantee, was made pup
lie Yesterday by Norvin l.. Lindheim,
of counsel for the shippers, and is as
follows: :
~ have noted from your letter OF
January % that the W. l.. Green Com
mission Company, of st. Louis, mas
shipped on the steamship Wilhe!mlna
foodstuffs to Hamburg. for the exc u-
sive consumption of the civil popula-
ton of Germany. !, as representative
Of the German government, guarantee
TO YOU that the foodstufs Will not
reach the German government. ts
AGENTS or contractors, nor the military
and naval forces. / will further take
the necessary steps which Will insure
that the German government VIII not
make use of its right to pre-emptioh'
.Thc order of the German Fedora
Council. which is being commented
unon in the press. has merely been
iesued TO prevent foodstufs at pres
ent i'm Germany from beng corneteu
and speculated with. thus bringing
about an initiation of their prices y.
any rate. the order does not aHec'
foodstutfs imported from neutral eouh-
.ries and intended exclusively for non
combatants. shall at once commuh''
cate in this matter with inc c.a''
nonartment and advise you later:
Edward n. Breitung, owner OF tne
s,eamship Dacia, which the Brush
Government has announced II "ouIn
eeeize if il sailed from Galveston, WIN
a cargo of cotton, is negotiating WIN
tho Ward Line for the purchase OF tne
steamer Seguranca. Mr.. Breltuhg
intention is to convert the Segurahca'
a passenger ship, into cotton-eatry-
ing freighter. ..,.;,.o bero
an Sunday from Havana. IL was saIu
that She will be turned over 10 the
company Mr. Breitung represents
mon her arrival, and that the WORK
~ reconstruction will be begun with
out delay Another ship OF the "ard
line the Vigilancia, has been aoiu
and will likewise be converted I lm.o
a cotton-carrying freighter. Inc wig
ilancia's purchasers are ward q Atm
strong. Of Savannah. p-:...
a representative Of. Mr.. Breituns
announced that he was seeking 70
purchase other ships OF American VI
The German tank steamers klows
and Mefen. which have been informed
- staten Island since the European
var started. have been sold ana Placeu
under American registry. Inc Stanu.
ard oil Company is reported 10 Oe 'ne
purchaser of the vessels