Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-12-03
VIGOROUS PROTEST
WILL co TO BRITAIN
American Steamer Rcquisitioned
Without Formally Of Prize
Court Proceedings.
ACTION AMAZES OFFICIALS
State Department Awaits Report
From Page Before Deciding
What Steps to Take.


What Steps to Take.
WASHINGTON. December Official
announcement that then American
steamship Hooking had been requisi-
toned By the british government With
on, the formality OF prize court pro
ccedings was received by the state De-
pnrtmcnr late to-day in Il dispatch from
Consul General Young. ut lialifax.
where The ship has been detained since
sne was seized b. British warship
while oil the way from New Yori; 10
Norfolk
This procedure viii hc VIGOROUSLY
contested by the United States govern
ment being illegal and in violation
Of recognized rights under intcrna-
tional law Officials OF the Department.
who had been more or less skcptical
regarding unofficial reports OF the in
tcntioms OF Great Britain. expressed
frank ama.cmeu; when th"y learned
that III" Hooking actually had been
rcquisttioned. Th. United states I;
vas said viii demand that the snip
b. retained in prize court on the
charge that She is partly German
owned. and that the prize court act
promptly in the case
MAY TAKE OVER OTHER
VESSELS or FLEET
Confirmation Of unofficial reports re-
gardrg the action in tho IIockinE case
led r,f' i:,lS L..
Britain intends to take over for it's
ON use other vessels of the fee,
owned By the .Amercau Transatlantic
Company, il it has not done so already.
The company has informed the state
Department that its ship Gcnssec, at
st Lucia. West Indies. has been rcqui-
sitioned. and that the ksukakce now
at sea. bound for For: Stanley. Falk-
land Islands in charge OF a prize crew
from the British steamer Macedonian
viii be reQuisitioned upon her arrival
a. port. Representations regarding the
locking probably will include also
the cases OF the Gcncsec and the Kan
kakce.
Attorneys acting for Great Britain
in the cases base tlicir motions for
orders OF eQuisition upon a Bitish
orders OF rcGuisition upon q british
order in council issued April % which
the United states is not prepared to ac-
ccrt as in accordance with intorna-
,ional law.
STATE DEPARTMENT
WAITS no HEAR FROM FACE
The stat" Department now is await
ing report from Ambassador Page at
London. who. after tho department had
received unofficial intimation OF the
intention of the British government.
was instructed TO inquire into the mat
ter and TO enter Il vigorous protest it
lie found that rcquisition was contcm-
plated. Although no Information had
been received from Amha ssa,ior Page
tonight. il was presumed by DEPART
mcnt officials that he had received con-
firmation in London. The department
desires 10 know just what action Mr.
I'acc has taken before determining
what t"rm further Representations
shall take.
consul-Gcncr3l Young's dispatch said
that when IL" order allowing rcuuisi-
ton waS granted by the prize court in
Halifax this afternoon. i, was .tipu-
lated that the crown should give ar
undertaking for the appraised value OF
the ship The crown. under this ar
ranEcincnt. agrees to pay the amount
OF the appraiscment into tho court.
should final adjudication in the case be
against the British government. The
report contained no details regarding
IN" "ppraiScinent. Dispatches re-
cciNcd by Counselor Polk. of the state
Department. from attorneys for III.
American Transatlantic Company. how
over. stated that iii the ease of the
(fcnCScc rfal IN,
at $4,000
ARRANGING ARGUMENTS
TO BE USED ~ CASE:
officials OF the State Department al.
rcadJ arc arranging the legal arvu.
mcnis which may bc used III tho case
They have found that during the Civil
War certain neutral ships were s,,i;cd
and requisitioncd by the United States
before prize court adjudication. Most
of the ships. however. are said TO have
been blockade runners.
The department was Informed TO-
night that the American Transatlantic
Company had nearly completed it's col
l"ci.'n of afldavits of holders of stock
in the corporation. which, it is claimed,
will prove that the company is wholly
owned by American citizens
The Hooking was requisitioned under
authority OF rule Of prize court pro-
cedurc. provided for by the order in
council. reading as follows:
where IL il made to appear TO the
judge on the application OF the proper
officer OF the crown that il is desired
TO rcduisition on behalf Of Ills Ma
jcsiy ship I'm respect OF which no .inal
decree Of condemnation has been made,
he shall order that the ship shall be
appraised. and that upon am undertake
ing being given. the ship shall he re-
leased and delivered to the crown"
This rule was contained in an
amendment, which was made after the
AttorncY-General appearing for the
British government in the case OF a
neutral ship which had been reuuisi-
toned. contcnded that 4 belliSerent
State had right to requisition ac-
cording to international law, for urgent