Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1915-08-03
REFUGEE SHIPS
GIVEN ANOTHER
2 WEEKS GRACE
AT End of That Time If Harbor
is Not Cleared, Commission
erS Will Take Action

Two weeks more Of grace are to be
given the German refugee ships in
Honolulu harbor, before any action is
taken by the board of harbor commits.
sioners in the matter of demanding
them to move to outside waters.
This was the decision reached by
unanimous vote this afternoon at a
meeting called for the special purpose
OF taking some action on the refugee
ships, following the cable recently re-
ceiyed from Washington refusing to
grant permission to them to anchor
at Pearl Harbor.
F. w. Klebahn. appearing in behalf
Of the German ships, through the
ed that it was impossible to move the
vessels outside the harbor with the
10 tons of coal allowed them by the.
InterIsland Steamship Company ct
would be the height of folly" he said,
ito move these ships out there where
they would be at the mercy of wind
and waves, with an allowance OF coal
in this quantity.
81 have two possible plans said
Mr.. Klebahn, which am working on
and which should develop favorably
within fortnight" Klebahn said that
he did not care to make known just
what the plans were. but he
thought them worth while trying, and
he was sure that two weeks time was
enough for him to see what their.
results would be. The vote for an
extension of time was accordingly
taken.
ct Is true," said Mr.. Klebahn, that
the Ho1satia has been anchored out
side the harbor, without steam enough
to move her in case of storm, but 1t
is at the cost of constant risk of hav-I
ing her go on the reef In case Of
a strong enough wind came up to
cause her to drag her anchors,
The Holsatia is at present being
held by all the anchors available, and
has all electric lights and motors
turned off in an effort to save coal
Mr. Klebahns said that he did not feel
like taking such a. responsibility upon
his shoulders with the other vessels
that are tied up here
Several suggestions were made by
various members of the board as to-
plans that might be used to get the
vessels out of the harbor. Probably
the most feasible was that they be
equipped with oil burners large
enough to furnish power against any
storm that might come upon them out
side Mr.. Klebahn said that he felt
the price of such d change would be
pr0lifbitive, but that he would make
an investigation Of the matter to see
what could be done.
Chairman Forbes stated in reply
that as far as the commission was
concerned the price had nothing to-
do with the moving of the ships. 1T
is our concern" he said, ito clear the
harbor, and We must do 1t regardless
of what it may cost the ship compan-
les"
C. J. Mccarthy of the board suggest
ed Koolau harbor at Kaneohe as an
other possible haven, though 1t is not
known definitely by any Of the mem
bers of the > board if water deep
enough for these ships could be found
there. Frank Poor secretary of the
board, does not think it Is of sufficient
depth. -
Before Mr.. Klebahn left the meeting
he was informed that the commission
ers appreciated the standpoint Of
Hackfeld & Company In not wanting
to move the ships outside the harbor,
and that the board would welcomes
any plan that might furnish a safe
means of changing them from their
present location In reply, Mr.. Kle-
balm said that he understood the po-
sition of the harbor board, and that he
had made known to the ships COM
manders why they we're beng asked
to move I'VE are doing all we pos
sibly can toeelear the harbor for you,
he said.