Omaha daily bee., 1917-05-09
AMERICAN SHIPS
CARRY FOOD TO
GERMAN DIVERS
Three Vessels of Trans Allan
tic Line Are Held at St.
Thomas on Serious
Charges.
CREWS TELL THE STORY
Food and Oil Hidden Under
Coal Transferred to Sub
seas in Mid Atlantic.
TWO DEPARTMENTS BUSY

rtlent~is investigating the activities OF
the steamer Manitowoc and other
vessels of the American Trans-Atlan-
tic company which are said to have
carried supplies to German subma-
rines in the Atlantic.
This was disclosed at the Navy de-
partment today, but no details Of the
steps taken were given out.
The American Transatlantic COM
pany has Offices in New York and
Boston and its ships fly the American
flag.
Officials here will not say what had
aroused their suspicious, but admit
ted that the ships had been held for
investigation at St. Thomas, Virgin
islands, by order of the Navy depart
ment.
Both the State and Justice depart
ments have been taking part in the
investigation.
The Manitowoc, Muskegon and
Allaguash, all belonging to the same
lire, shortly. before the Danish islands
became the Virgin Islands, U. S. A.,
put into the harbor of St. Thomas,
bound from Buenos Ayres to New
York, supposedly to await orders"
They were still waiting for orders
when the islands were transferred to
the United States.
According to their manifests. all
three ships carried coal and other fuel
supplies. Members Of the crew OF the
Manitowoc say all the vessels were
loaded with contraband or German
submarines.
Food Hidden Under Coal.
"When We left New York last we
were supposed to have cargo OF coal
exclusively" said one of the crew.
Underneath the coal were all sorts
Of fuel and food supplies. Supposedly
the cargo was destined for Buenos
Ayres. Between St. Thomas and
Buenos Ayres we got rid OF our cargo
on the high seas to German submar-
ines. We had no cargo when we
reached Bucnos Ayres."
AT Buenos Ayres that trip, the Mus
kegon and Allaguash all took on gen.
eral food cargoes, oil and other fuel
supplies, which were covered over
with several hundred tons OF coal,
they said. On the Manitowoc there
were also placed two iron chests filled
with gold, each supposed to contain
$3.50 600. These, according to the men,
also were hidden under the coal.
Crew Demanded Pay.
While waiting in St. Thomas for or
ders, the Danish islands we're trans
ferred to the United States. and the
ships were not permitted to sail. The
crew OF the Manitowoc tried to get
some OF their pay while idle in the
harbor, but Captain Hogstead re-
fused to make any payment.
Three Ships Are Held.
Correspondence Of The Associated Press,)
San Juan, Porto Rico, May S.
There are German submarines in the
Atlantic and until very recently they
have been supplied from the United
States by ships flying the American
flag, according to statements by
members of the crew OF the steamer
Manitowoc, which for several weeks
was detained in the harbor at St.
Thomas. Twenty-one OF the crew
are returning to the United States
after difficulties with Captain F. Hog
stead, master of the ship.
The men then made a complaint to
Rear Admiral Oliver, governor of the
Islands, who required Captain Hog
stead to guarantee that he would not
supply any more enemy ships before
being permitted to leave the harbor,
presumably for Buenos Ayres. Cap
tain Hogstead said he was unable to
get any instructions from the owners
in New York.
One morning, according to the
crew, the captain ordered xhe ships
flag hoisted upside down, indicating
that there was mutiny aboard. When
officials from shore came on board to
find out what the trouble was, the
men insisted there was nothing wrong
except for the fact they had refused
to work upless their pay was guaran-
teed. a-.
Men Arrive at San Juan.
Finally, they said, here Captain
Hogstead signed such a guarantee.
Shortly afterward, it was learned, the
Manitowoc had been ordered to re-
turn to Buenos Ayres and they were
preparing to sail with it. when, they
assert, Captain Hogstead repudiated
his guarantee. The men demanded
that they be returned to New York
and they arrived here today enroute,
to the states.