TaÌˆgliche Omaha tribuÌˆne. [volume] (Omaha, Nebr.) 1912-1926, 1916-01-08

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writing it Is believed such American
vessels as are navigating the IfeaI
lakes. the Mississippi River and the
hudson River are safe from capture
or detention at the hands OF British
cruisers. The Long Island SOUND
lines also are running without inter
ruption. Beyond this statement We
nave no certain assurance,
Between New York and NorlolN
Va. the voyage is dangerous WITHIN
. Jew weeks at least two ships on
tbe voyage have been chased by
pr;t;sh men-of-war. The Vinland Is
M indeed an American ship, being q
Danish registry. With a cargo out
81 New York November IL for Nor
folk she escaped by creeping' Glossy
nursued, through the log INSIDE lne
three-mile line down the Jersey
coast. 4a
The Hooking was not SO fortunate
Tue Hooking IS an American vessel
living the American flag, owned by
Americans, and was steamlng
between two American ports. she
lad. and could have had, no contra
hand on board, for nothing can DC
contraband passing between TWO
ports of a neutral country.
But. as a matter Of fact, she was
IN ballast, without a pound OF cargo
II her. Al British cruiser caught ner
N her way out Of New York harbor'
boarded her within sight OF the
Jersey shore, put her in charge OF
an armed prize crew, hauling Gown
the American flag and running up
he British lack and took her, a
nrize, into Halifax, where She was
put in charge Of the Marshal OF the
Prize Court.
American ships voyaging to the
Caribbean are likely las was the
Zealandia at Progreso on NoyemDef
gl 10 be boarded by a British board
;ng crew within the shelter OF ?
.Mexican port. American ships bound
for South America are likely % be
caotured. as was the Genesee out OF
Norfolk. October IA, carried. a
arize. into a British West Indian
port, St. Lucia.
The rights of American vessels OF
Of American cargoes on vessels OF
other neutral nations, on the ether
side of the Atlantic being what they
are-namely, non-existent, aband-
oned flor not a ship crosses the At
lautic TO and from Our ports without
license of the British Admiralty, 1t
NAV perhaps be worth while to IN
ouire whether we have any PRIV
iieoes left us along our own coasts
The cases Of the Hooking the
C,enesee and the Kankakee are
dramatically illustrative OF the at
titude of the British Government
toward our shippinf
Once the Hooking was q Dutcn
ship. Then her name was the Anne,
land. In course of time she passed
under Danish registry and was
known as the Gronland. On October
%. 1915. she became a registered
American ship, having passed INTO
the ownership Of the American
Transatlantic Steamship Company,
INCORPORATED Under the laws OF the
State of Delaware, and with its sliet
office at No. II Battery Place. New
York City.
There was some hesitation on the
mart of the Washington authorizes
n according the Hooking registra-
tion as an Americas ship. In tact,
nrotcst against this action was made
bv representatives Of the British
Government, and three months we're
expended in an exhaustive inVestiga-
t;on of the American TRANSATLANTIC
Steamship Company, the character
az its stockholders, the nationality
M its officers and the good faith OF
the transfer Of the vessel. 1t IS al
legged TO be the ambition OF the
present Administration at Washing
ton to build up an American nler-
chant marine.
The Hooking wa not indeed a
gigantic addition to shipping list
But the good faith of her transfer
was so apparent, the honorable COM
mercial ambition which made her
one of a growing fleet OF American
ships was so clear that, in spite OF
British opposition, she was, on the
date above mentioned, impressed
With the character of an American
ship and given the right to fly the
American flag and enjoy whatever
protection that emblem affords
What that protection amounted to
was soon manifest. A week and a
day after she had acquired American
nationality the Hooking fell the prey
Of one of the British cruisers which
blockade the entrance of New York
harbor and was carried as a prize
to Halifax.
There must, Of course, have been,
and there was a ground upon which
Great Britain interfered with this
modest attempt of American enter
prise TO take care OF its own ship
ping interests. It could not, Of
course, be alleged that the Hooking
was an enemy ship" transferred to
American registry for the purpose
of escaping the embarrassment OF,
say, German ownership.
Something over a year ago there
was a good deal Of talk about build
ing up an American merchant mar
inc. Under existing circumstances
such \ marine could be built up only
by purchases Of foreign ships and
during a couple Of months there
were heard IN the neighborhood Of
Washington many brave words
about the right Of ! nation to pro-
vide for its necessities.
A Ship Purchase Bill was intro
duced into Congress calling for the