The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1915-01-23
OFF FOR GERMANY
RISKING CAPTURE
BY BRITISH
WiIheImina with Cargo Of Food
Stuffs Sails for Hamburg
OWNER APPEALS TO BRYAN
Informed that Food Stuffs Iiay Be
Lawfully Shipped into 5eilieerent
Territory.

New York, Jan 23-Risking pos
sible seizure by British warships ly-
ing off the Atlantic coast, the Amer
| ican-owned steamer Wilhelmina, fly
ing the American flag and loaded with
approximately 100000 worth of food
stuffs consigned by an American
commission firm to an American cfti-
zen in Germany, passed out to sea
from this port last night, entering the
first voyage of its kind undertaken by
any vessel from an American port
since war began nearly six months
ago in Europe. If the vessel is de-
tanned or seized the w. l.. Green COM
mission company of ST. Louis, char
terers OF the vessel, and shippers Of
her cargo. will, according to their
counsel at New York. file protest
with the American state department
declaring that the cargo is conditional
contraband, denying the right of a
belligerent warship to confiscate II,
and requesting the United States to
demand the immediate release of the
ship and cargo.
The cargo consists OF grain. meats
and dried fruits and is intended, ac-
cording to the shippers. for consump-
ton by the civilian population of Ger-
many and will not be sold directly
or indirectly to the German govern
ment or its armed forces. N0-yin X.
Lindheim of counsel for the St Louis
company said at New York lester
day that the shippers were prepared
TO obtain from the German govern
ment, if necessary. with a view u
quieting possible fears by the British
or other allied governments, a guar
antee that only noncombatants viii
receive the Wilhelminas cargo
The Wilhelmina. a freighter. form
erly in West Indian service. left her
dock about o'clock after getting
clearance papers for Hamburg from
the customs authorities in the usual
way She carried sufficient coal for
voyage of 80 days but unless de
tanned by hostile warshps expects to
reach Hamburg in from 16 to 20 days.
Her captain, William Brewer of Phil
adelphia. is an American and her
crew is American except for few
Spanish and Scandinavian oilers
Sir Courtenay w Bennett. the Brit
ttt- IN Maui Xnrlr
when the sailing of the Wilhelmina
was brought to his attention, declin-
ed to discuss the case.
The WiIhelmina's cargo consists of
10000 pounds of wheat; $4,000 of
corn and 100000 of bran and lard,
beef, pork, hams, picked tongues,
dried fruit, peas. beans and oats Be-
fore deciding to risk this cargo on the
high seas, it's owners according to
Mr.. Lindheim. consulted the state de-
plrtment On the Cd, letter was
sent to Secretary Bryan. which con
tanned this clause: Please advise
US in what position We would stand,
SO far as your department is concern
ed, If we negotiate sales of wheat
cargoes to German buyers and make
shipment direct to German govern
ment, that the grain is not for mill
tary usage, in any way, shape or
form"
Secretary Bryan replied. MIR. Lind
helm said as follows 'Foodstuffs
are ranked as conditional contraband
and may lawfully be shipped to terri
tory of belligerents when in fact not
destined or intended as supplies for
the belligerent government or its
armed forces" Mr.. Lindheim said
that Secretary Bryan added a word
to the effect that he could not out
line what course the state depart
ment would pursue in the event Of
seizure of such a cargo shipped under
the conditions described in the COM
pany's letter to him.