The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1915-12-01
Ships DETAINED
PROTESTS ON TRADE INTERFERR=
ENCE TO COME SOON
GREAT BRITAIN ACTIVE
Action Of Her Cruisers in Searching
and OBTAINING American Ships is
Raising Points Of Law to be Set
tied by the Two Countries.

tied by the Two Countries.
No state department action will be
taken as to the seizure by a British
cruiser of the American Transatlantic
Company's steamship Genecee until a
full report Of the incident has been
received. Nevertheless, a high off,
cial Of the department says that the
seizure of the vessel, which was car
rying coal from Norfolk to Monte
video, probably would be made the
subject of an earnest protest to Great
Britain.
Another steamer belonging to the
American Transatlantic Company, the
Winneconne, is now lying at her dock
in New York, half loaded with
cargo put on board under British in
spection.
The fundamental trouble in the
matter Of defending against seizures
such as that of the Hooking and the
Genesee seems to arise from official
requirements as to the ships bill OF
sale. IL putting into effect the Ship
Purchase Bill of August Is, 1914, the
department Of commerce prepared
regulations, the most important Of
which requires that the original bill
of sale shall be placed on file in the
office of the commissioner Of naviga-
ton.
In the Hooking case, as always oc-
ours in prize court cases, the first de-
mand was for the bill Of sale. The
owners could show only certified
h,+ fho% onnhnfn1
the best evidence available. The own
ers of the Hooking asked to be allow
ed to give bond and bail the ship, SO
that, it could proceed OF it's voyage,
for which a contract had been execut-
ed over a month ago, but the request
was refused, and the ship was held.
The American Transatlantic Com
pany was organized by R. H. Wag-
ner of Milwaukee, and later of New
York, and Wisconsin capital is large
ly behind it. Mr.. Wagner told the
department of commerce officials
that he was induced to invest in the
project by relative in Copenhagen
named Jensen, who said he was max
ing very large profits out CT his ships.
AS Jensen is a coal dealer and has
relations with Hugo Stinnis of Ger
many, who is a big coal operator, the
charge was made by British officials,
and taken up by the Commissioner OF
Navigation, that the ships bought by
Wagner were really owned by Stinnis
It was learned that the government
had taken the position that no vic.
lation OF American rights on the high
seas, under generally recognized priu.
ciples Of international law, could be
excused on the ground that the COM
mander of the belligerent vessels had
made mistake. The contention Of
the state department in all such cases
| is that governments are responsible
for the mistake Of their military and
naval commanders, and whore such
mistakes contravene American rights
under international law, the United
States will insist on reDaration and
disavowal.
In it's consideration Of the facts in
the case of the alleged forcible
searching of the American steamer
Zealandia at Progresso, Yucatan, by
a party from a British cruiser, it is
not the purpose of the United States
TO take any other position than that
the British government is responsible
for any mistake made by the British
officers who searched the ship.
This government now appears to
be satisfied that the Zealandia was
searched within the three-mile limit.
Reports both from American naval
officers on the battleship Kentucky,
which was sent to Progresso to in
yestigate, and from the American
consul at that port say that the Off
GERS from a British cruiser searched
the Zealandia at point which was
2.66 miles from shore. The reports
70 the British embassy from the Of
icer of the British cruiser said the
search was made 3.25 miles from
shore.
However, the Zealandia incident is
not considered serious, except as a
matter sof principle, as the Zealardia
has been allowed to depart from Pro-
gresso in continuation of its voyage;
the British cruiser which made the
search has also gone away from Pro-
gresso, and no serious damage was
occasioned by the search.
Richard G. Wagner, president of
the American Transatlantic Company
at II Battery Place, said that the
Winneconne had not yet left her pier
and would not leave until there was
decision in the case OF the Hooking
or the Genesee so that he would
know whether American citizens had
any rights to operate steamers TO