Evening star., 1915-02-17
McAdoo Advised Against Ac-
ton, Says B. N. Baker,
Inquiry Witness.
ALLY-OWNED VESSELS
CONSIDERED, However
Investigator of Craft Available for
United States Purchase Closely
Questioned by Senators.

Bernard n. Baker of Baltimore. form
terest of the Atlantic Transport Com
wise Secretary McAdoo in the matter
of ships available for purchase by the
government under the administration
ship purchase bill. today declared to
the Senate committee on the ship bill
investigation that he had repeatedly
advised the Secretary not to purchase
German ships interned in this country
Il told the Secretary that these ves-
sells were not available from a business
point of view," said Mr.. Baker in reply
to questions by Senators Burton and
Sutherland Nearly all of them are
passenger vessels; I should say about
so per cent of them"
Complications Not Discussed.
Mr.. Baker. in reply to repeated ques-
tfons, insisted that he had not dis
cussed with Secretary McAdoo the in
ternational complications that might
arise II the German ships were pur-
chased by this government.
We never got to that point" he said
Mr.. Baker admitted that he himself
was governed partly by these interna-
tional complications that might arise
In advising against the purchase of
German ships He said, however, that
he and Secretary McAdoo had discussed
the possible purchase of French and
British ships owned by citizens of those
belligerent powers
Ordered Not to Sell.
Mr.. Baker told the committee that
w. ]. Sickel. prominent official of the
Hamburg-America line, soon after
the outbreak of the war in Europe, had
told him that he had absolute orders
from the German government not to
sell any of the German vessels in Amer
Jean ports, as Germany would need
them all soon. Mr.. Baker said that he
had requested Mr.. Sickel to come to
Washington to consult with Secretary
McAdoo about the shipping situation
He refused to come" said Mr.. Baker,
'if the question of the purchase of ves-
sells of the Hamburg-American line was
to be taken up"
Mr.. Baker said that Mr. Sickel finally
did come to see Mr.. McAdoo and that
he himself was present at the inter-
view.
At the opening of the Investigation
this morning Senator Walsh read to
the committee a letter addressed by
Secretary McAdoo to Senator Fletcher
Of Florida, In charge of the ship pur-
chase bill in the Senate, denying that
he or any official of the government
had had any negotiations with any one
for the purchase of German interned
ships or any other ships. This was the
letter made public last night by Sec
retary McAdoo.
Not Found at Address.
Senator Walsh then informed the
committee that no Sigmund Albert had
Sigmund Albert was one of the wit
| nesses whom Senator Burton suggest
| ed summonin2 before the committee as
a representative of some of the Ger
man lines. The sergeant-at-arms of
the Senate reported that he had To-
Gated an H. Albert at 45 Broadway.
who was the commercial attache of
the German government in New York
Two Sigmund Alberts had been located
at AZ Broadway.
Senator Walsh suggested that prob
ably Senator Burton did not care to
summon the German government
commercial attache before the com
rnittee and Senator Burton assented
Questions to Mr.. Baker about the chief
representatives OF the Hamburg Amer
| lean line in New York brought out the
statement that DIR. Adolph Bunz was
the American director of the company
and that other important officials were
VI. G.. Sickel. J. +. Meyer and Capt. J.
| Polls 1t was decided to summon Mr..
| Sickel. the vice director.
! Questions Mr.. Baker.
| Senator Burton questioned Mr. Bake,
closely regarding his past connections
with shipping corporations and alse
his connections with the Hamburg.
American line. Mr.. Baker told the com.
nlittee that he had for some years no,
been directly connected with any ship
ping company, but that he had acted
| for the Hamburg American line in Ger.
| tain negotiations looking to the estab.
| lishment of line, so per cent of the
i stock of which was to be owned b,
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