The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1915-02-10
W|LHElMINA has
ARRIVED IN PORT
At FALMOUTH
Flies American Flag and Has No
Prize Crew on Board
CARGO TO PROVIDE TEST CLAUSE
British Foreign Office Has Not
Changed Attitude on Food Stuffe
Shipped to Germany.

London, Feb l0.-The American
steamer Wilhelmina, which has car
go of food supplies aboard for Ger
| many. arrived at Falmouth, yesterday
afternoon. The captain of the Wilhel
nina said he came TO Falmouth OF
his own free will and had no prize
crew aboard Customs officers visit
ed the vessel Immediately upon her
arrival, but it had not been announc
ed what action. II any, was taken. The
Wilhelmina lies in the stream with
the American flag flying. She had all
extremely rough passage, the officers
describing it as the worst in their ex.
periencc.
1t is generally understood that the
shipment of foodstuffs on board the
Wilhelmina Is to furnish test case
to determine whether American YES
sells bearing food products which are
to be used by the civilian population
of Germany, may be stopped by the
British government from entering Ger
man ports. The NNilhelmina was
chartered from the Southern Products
trading company OF New York by the
w r. Green commission company OF
St. Louis, Mo. and the cargo was con.
signed to the branch Office of the firm
in Hamburg 1t has been expected
that the steamer would be arrested by
the British authorities when she ap-
preached England and that they
would offer to buy the food supplies
on board. but at the same time re-
fuse to allow her to enter any Ger
man port.
1t had been contended that food
stuffs for the use Of civilians only
would not be classified as contraband
OF war. Subsequent to the sailing Of
the Wilhelmina the German govern
ment announced its intention of seiz-
ing all food products in Germany,
whereupon Great Britain declared alt
lOOu W bt
is a possibility that the American
commission for relief in Belgium will
be successful In its efforts to buy the
steamer Wilhelmina and her cargo or
supplies.
The British foreign office last night
claimed that it had not been advised
as to the movements of the steamship
Wilhelmina, bound from New York
for Hamburg with a cargo OF grain.
The policy of the British government
concerning the Wilhelmina. it is stat
ed at the foreign office. has under
gone no change, however. Her cargo
of foodstuffs destined for Hamburg
will be thrown into a PRIZE court and
the ship will be released as soon as
possible. The American commission
for relief in Belgium has received no
further advices concerning its offer
to buy the grain and the ship. but il |
still believes a price may be agreed
upon for the transfer of the boat and
its cargo to the commission.
Norvin Il. Lindheim and Charles A. |
Towne, representing the owners OF |
the steamer Wilhelmina's cargo, call |
ed at the state department at Wash. |
ington yesterday and had long con
ference with Solicitor Johnson 1t |
was understood they urged that the |
department seek a speedy determina-
tion of the question whether Great |
Britain has the right under interna.
tional law to prevent ships flying the
American flag from entering German |
ports with food for the civilian popu-
lation.