Norwich bulletin., 1915-03-24
Libel Proceedings
 stOdenwa|d
GERMAN STEAMER WHICH TRIED TO LEAVE SAN JUAN HARROR.
ATTORNEY GEN. ACTS
United States Has Ordered Three Warships Off the Coast to Prevent Violations of NeutraIity-Ships Or dered to Other Points.

Washington, March 23.-Attorney General Gregory late today instructed the United States district attorney of Porto Rico to institute libel proceed ings against the German steamship Odenwald, which attempted Sunday to leave San Juan harbor without clear ance papers.
 Under these proceedings the vessel may be held in the custody of a mar shal pending settlement of the ques- tion whether she shall be forfeited to the United States under the recent joint resolution of congress prescribing penalties in such cases.
 Two Destroyers at San Juan.
 While the department of justice was considering the legal phases of the OdenWald case, treasury officials had before them a report from San Juan that fear was felt that both the Oden- wald and another Hamburg American liner, the Praesident, might, under cover of darkness slip past the guns of Morro Castle and dash for the sea. Secretary Daniels was informed of the situation and after a conference with the president, Admiral Fletcher at Guantanamo, was instructed to dis patch two destroyers to San Juan and the coast guard service ordered the cutter Algonquin, now cruising in the West Indies, to steam at once for that port.
 Attorney General Gregory's action, indicating the purpose of the govern ment to undertake confiscation of the Odenwald by due process of law in the district court for Porto Rico, attract ed much attention in official and dip lomatic circles. It is the first definite action begun by the administration un- der the new congressional authority. It was explained tonight that the own- els or the ship might give bond and secure her release from custody pend ing disposition of the case in the court although it was not likely that such a course would be followed.
 Officials are waiting for further in formation before taking any action un- der the criminal sections of the neu- trality resolutions, for violation of which the owners or master of the Odenwald might be subjected to fine ana imprisonment .. --
 Enforcement of Neutrality.
 The general subject of enforcing neutrality has been brought promin- ently to the front by the situation in Porto. Rico Although treasury officials are said to be satisfied there is nc truth in reports of plans to slip some of the fast German steamers in port in New York and Boston to sea, con- ditions in New York are such that Captain BerthoIf, commandant of the coast guard service, has been over tC
  lone about possible measures to be taken to keep a stricter watch on out going ships
 Particular fear now is that some ot the smaller ships which clear from New York will violate the ntutrality laws, by taking supplies or ammuni- tion and coal to sea to transfer tc ships of belligerent nations.
 For the present treasury officials dc not expect to send more coast guard cutters either to New York or Boston although the work of the cutters ir handling outgoing ships has been par ticularly pleasing to customs authori- ties. In the near future, however many of the cutters will leave theil winter stations and may be assigned to Earbor work if more protection is necessary. The Seneca now on ice patrol in the North Atlantic, will 5e back in New York in few weeks an6 probably will be stationed in the har- bor to help Collector Malone.