New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-08-04
Several Cargoes for Ger
man Houses Seized, Say
Cable Messages.
SEE MOVE TO KEEP
ARMS OUT OF INDIA
Merchants Protest to Lansing
Fear Danger to Trade in
United States Waters.

The question Of the extension Of tho
British trade blockade to American
territory was raised yesterday when
word was received Of the seizure OF
valuable merchandise csrgoes con-
signed by American firms TO German
houses in Manila.
A cable message from Alfredo ,
Roensch & Co., German concern long
established in Manila, to Dodge & Sey-
mour, manufacturers agents, OF 1874
West Street shippers of some OF the
intercepted goods, told Of the seizure.
Some merchants see in the transac-
ton possible connection between Ger
man activities here and in the insular
possessions, and attempts, evidently Of
Teutonic inspiration, to stir trouble
for the British on the Indian frontier.
Arms May Have Reached India.
In the British House Of Lords the adj
mission was made recently that seven
attempts to invade India from the
north had been crushed. Natives of
Himalsyan tribes in India have been
sufficiently supplied with war materials
to make at least a showing in battle
with British troops. Where these arms
were obtained Is . puzzle the officials
are trying to solve.
The shipments from America TO Ger
man companies in the Philippines con-
sisted Of automobiles, sporting rifles.
small arms ammunition, rubber ma
terials and hardware-all of which, il is
pointed out, could be used TO advantage
in warfare.
Caryoes on Canadian Ships.
The steamships Empress OF Asia and
Empress Of Russia, of the Canadian Pa
cifc Steamship Lines, and the lxion. un-
der charter 10 the Northern Pacific
Railway, were the vessels from which
the merchandise was removed. These
vessels sailed from Pacific ports in May
and June, and carried passengers and
miscellaneous cargoeS for Far Eastern
ports, mainly for Manila.
The cable messages from Roensch e.
Co. do not state at what port the man
ifests of the vessels were Vsed and the
American shipments removed from the
cargoes, but IL is assumed by shipping
men here that the port of Hong Kong,
which Great Britain has made her naval
headquarters since the outbreak Of the
war, is the most probable one.
No War Clause In Policies.
At least a part of tie seized ship
ments were covered by war risk insur-
ance issued by the New York agency OF
an American insurance company. Being
consigned 20 neutral territory, the poll
cies are understood not 10 have con-
tanned the usual war risk clauses.
Shipping men, particularly those
having connections in Manila, declare
that for six months Great Britain has
been interfering with shipments made
by American firms 10 German concerns
in the Philippines, and that the value
Of the goods seized will run into a
million dollars or more. Representa-
tiyes here of German concerns In the
Philippines, and in some instances men
directly from Manila, have been seek
ing relief, and protests Of the seizures
have been filed by them with the Sec
rotary of State.
at is manifestly unfair and unlaw-
full for Great Britain 20 interfere with
our legitimate trade with Manila" said
a member OF local shipping firm last
night. THE Germans with whom we
do business in Manila have been es-
tablished there for two decades and
more, and since the outbreak OF the
war have rot been involved in any
way with supplying materials 10 the
German government"