Evening star., 1915-03-24
DESTROYER TOHO[D
0DENWA[D IN PORT
Warrington Arrives at San
Juan, Porto Rico, Tonight
to Enforce Neutrality.
TO LIBEL GERMAN SHIP
FOR DASH TO ESCAPE
United States Officials Order Strict
Watch to Prevent Other Interned
Vessels Leaving the Harbor.

Admiral Fletcher, commander-in-chie lei
of the Atlantic fleet. notified the Navy
| Department that the destroyer War
rington left Guantanamo, Cuba, last
| night for San Juan. Porto Rico. and
| should arrive there tonight
1 The mission of the destroyer is to
guard against any attempt by the in
! termed German liner Odenwald. or other
! vessels of a belligerent nation. making
a break from detention under the guns
! of Moro Castle.
Secretary Daniels said IL was not
planned to send another naval craft to
San Juan at present, it was thought
| the Warrington and the coast guard
| ship Algonquin would be sufficient to
maintain the neutrality of the port.
To Libel the Odenwald.
The United States district attorney at
San Juan. Porto Rico. had instructions
today to begin libel proceedings against
the Hamburg American liner Oden-
valid. which tried to put to sea Sun
day after clearance had been refused
her. The cutter Algonquin is steaming
aid American officials in efforts to
guard against violations of neutrality
Secretary Daniels also had Instructed
Admiral Fletcher at Guantanamo to
dispatch two destroyers to Porto Rico
to cooperate in that work.
Orders for the movement OF tine
American ships were given after off,
clals here received reports from San
Juan that some fear was felt that the
odenwald and another German liner
might try to slip TO sea past the guns
of Moro Castle. The report mentioned
the other ship as the President, now
tied up at San Juan.
Delay Criminal Proceedings.
Action ordered against the odenvald
is the first taken under authority of the
neutrality resolution adopted by Con-
gress in the closing days of the last
session. Under the proceedings the
Odenwald might be held in custody Of
marshal until it were determined
whether she should be forfeited to the
United States. or the vessels owners
might bond for her release pending set
tlement in the courts.
Until supplementary reports are re-
ceived from San Juan, officials here
VIII not take any action under crimi-
nal sections Of the congressional reso-
lotIou LOT VIOLATIONS or WA1Ch the
Odenwald's owners or master might be
compelled to submit to fine and i'm
prtsonment.
Attorney General Gregory-s action,
indicating the purpose of the govern
ment to undertake confscation of the
Odenwald by due process of law in the
district court for Porto Rico, attract
ed much attention in official and diplo-
matte circles.
Tells of Instructions.
Solicitor General Davis told of the
Instructions given to the federal at
torney who is holding that post ad in
term by appointment of the court
pending the arrival of the appointee.
United States Attorney Mertin. a vir-
glnian. The matter rests in the hands
of the federal attorney unless he
should see fit to further consult the
Department of Justice. The prompt
ness OF action is also entirely depend
ent upon the course taken by the fed
eral attorney.
Suit for libel against the vessel would
be flled. according to the proper pro-
cedure, in the federal court of the dis
trict. With filing of the papers a writ
of seizure would be asked for, and the
court would proceed to order the vessel
taken in charge by United States au-
thorities. 1t is probable that the mill
tary would be called upon to take the
SeSsel IN cnarSe, and that soldiers
would be set to guard her.
Assistant Secretary Peters Of the
Treasury Department. in charge of Gus
toms, stated this morning that he has
not had report of the circumstances of
the Odenwald incident: but that he ex-
poets the collector of customs to make
his explanations in due course of time
Mr.. Peters said there are over fifty
merchantmen of belligerent nations in
termed in the ports of the United States
Ihlrty-two are at the port of New
York, eleven at Boston, five at Phila-
delphia and Baltimore. one at Calves
ton. two at New Orleans. two at San
Francisco and one at Seattle. He spoke
from memory of the statistics assem-
bled for him. All these ships are Ger
man. with exception Of three Austrian
vessels in New York harbor and one
Austrian vessel at Boston.
Watch Ships at New York.
The general subject OF enforcing neu-
| trality has been brought prominently
to the front by the situation in Porto
Rico. Although Treasury officials are
said to be satisfied there Is no truth in
reports of plans to slip some of the
! fast German steamers in port in New
York and Boston to sea. conditions in
New York are ssch that Capt. Z. p.
Bertholf. commandant of the coast
guard service. has been over to confer
with Collector OF Customs Malone
about possible measures to be taken to
keep stricter watch on outgoing
ships.
1t was learned that the particular
| fear now is that some OF the smaller
ships which clear from New York will
violate the neutrality law by taking
supplies of ammunition and coal to sea
| TO transfer to ships OF belligerent ma
| tions.
| For the present. Treasury officials do
not expect to send more coast guard
| cutters either to New York or Bos-
ton. although the work OF the cutters
In handling OF outgoing ships has been
| particularly pleasing to customs au-
thorities. In the near future, however.
| many OF the cutters will leave their
| winter stations. and may be assigned
| to harbor work If more protection is
| necessary.
The Seneca. now on ice patrol in the
| north Atlantic. will be back In Naw
York in few weeks and probably will
be stationed in the harbor to help Col
| lector Malone