Arizona republican., 1915-12-03
TRepublican A. p. Leased WireI

TRepublican A. p. Leased WireI
 WASHINGTON. D. C., Dec. 2.-Of- ficiai announcement that the American steamship Hooking had been requisi- toned by the British government with out the formality of prize court pro- ceedings was received by the state de- partment late today in a dispatch from Consul General Young at Halifax, where the ship has been detained since she was seized by a British warship while on her way from New York to Norfolk.
 This procedure will be vigorously contested by the United States gov ernment as being illegal and in viola tion of recognized rights under inter national law. Officials of the depart menr who had been more CT less skep- ticaI regarding unofficial reports of the intentions of Great Britain, expressed frank amazement when they learned that the Hooking actually had been re- guisitioned The United States, it was said. will demand that ship be retained in prize court, in the charge that she is partly German owned, and that the prize court will act promptly in the case.
 Confirmation of unofficial reports regarding the action in the Hooking ease led officials here to believe that Great Britain intends to take over for its own use other vessels of the fleet owned by the American Transatlantic company: if it has not done so already. The company has informed the state department that it's ship Genesee in the West Indies, has been requisitioned and the Kankakee, now at sea bound for Port Stanley, Falkland islands. in charge of a prize crew from the Brit ish cruiser Macedonian, will be requi- sitioned upon her arrival at port. Rep resentations regarding the Hooking probably will include also the cases of the Genesee and the Kankakee.
 Attorneys acting for Great Britain in the cases base their motions for orders for requisition upon British oTdcr-in council issued April 29. which the United States is not prepared to accept as in accordance with interna- tionaI law.
 The state department now is await ing a report from Ambassad dor Walter II. Page at London, who, after the de- narUment had received unofficial inti- nation of the intention of the British government was instructed to inquire 4IltO lllG matter ana to enter a N1ROIOuS protest if he found that requisition was contemplated. Although no informa ton had been received from Ambassa- dor Page tonight, it was presumed by department officials that he had re- ceived confirmation in London. The department desires to know just what action MT. Page has taken before de termining what form further represen- tations shall take.
 Consul General Young's dispatch said that when the order allowing re- quisitions was granted by the prize court in Halifax this afternoon, it was stipulated that the crown should giv, an undertaking for the appraised val lie of the ship. The crown, under this arrangement, agrees to pay the amOun of the appIaisement into the cour should final adjudication in the case bt against the British government. The report contained no details regardins the appraisement Dispatches received by Counsellor Polk of the state depart. ment from attorneys for the American Transatlantic company, however stated that in the case of the Genese, the undertaking had been fixed a s45.000.
 Officials of the state department al ready are arranging the legal argu ments which may be used in the case They have found that during the civi war certain neutral ships were seizet and reuuisitioned by the United State hefcre prize court adjudicat tion. Mos of these ships. however, are said t, have been blockade runners.
 The department also was infOrme, tonight that the American Trans-At lantic company had nearly complete, its collection of the affidavits from tn holders of stock in the corporation which will, it is claimed, prove that i is wholly owned by American citizens All but two of the affidavits, it wa said, had been collected. Those nov on hand, it was said, might be immedi ately submitted to the state depart ment for it's information. It is claime they show that at least 90 per cent O the stock is owned by American citi zens.