The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-04-06
Vaterland, 54,2S2 Tons, and
Many Other Huge Ships.
Steamers Are Scattered-U. s.,
Honolulu and Manila.
CREWS TAKEN PRISONERS
1,oOO Men on the % German
Ships in n. Y. HarbOr.
100 Women AbOard-FamiIie
of Officers-Present Problem.

New York. April 6.-United States
armed forces seized all German ships
in all American ports today.
1t was Americas first act of war
In ports on every coast of the Uni
ted States proper. and in island pos
sessions, marines or blueja ckets went
aboard the enemy ships early today.
made members of the German crews
prisoners and took possession of the
vessels in the name of the United
States
At Hoboken. n. J.. alone. eighteen
vessels. including the giant Vaterland
were taken over. In all twenty-seven
ships were seized in New York waters.
The total number of German ships
in American waters. which were seized
is ninety-one. They represent a totas
gross tonnage of 594,696.
From Philadelphia, Boston. New Or
leans, Jacksonville. Wilmington. N. c..
San Francisco and other ports, came
reports during the morning of the
seizure of ships. No trouble was re-
ported. In every instance, marines or
bluejackets were armed. waiting and
ready for the signal to take over the
ships. This signal was word that the
house had passed the war resolution.
Waited All Night for Signal.
In New York harbor a long, gray.
war-painted destroyer waited ANXIOUS
ly on the water, just off the bow of
the giant Vaterland. Her guns were
trained on the enemy sea monster.
The busy launch of Collector of Port
Malone churned the waters of the bay
as he fastened on his early morning
enterprise. All night long he had
waited for the order to seize the ships
His deputies-by scores-were on the
docks and piers in Hoboken, New
York and at Staten Island. When
the word came, the waiting men hur-
ried aboa ard. The German sailors were
ordered to pack their belongings and
were hurried away to Ellis Island. The
same scenes were enacted at other
ports
In all cases the enemy sailors were
sent to the immigration stations, some
later being released on parole
At New London, the steamer WILLIE
had which has served as mother ship
to the merchant submarine Deutsch-
land, was seized.
Machinery Crippled
The German vessels are now SUBJ
ject to use by the United States.
Whether any of them can be put In
commission at early date, however,
is problematical. In most cases the
machinery of the ships has been
wrecked. The crews were under IN
structions to smash the cylinder heads
ana otherwise cripple the ships i'm
, mediately diplomatic relations be-
according to earlier reports. Inspec-
tion Of many of the vessels revealed
this had been done. The Kron Prin-
zessen Cecelie interned at Boston, is
an example. The captain OF this ves-
sci admitted under oath recently that
he had damaged the machinery of his
ship under orders.
The hulls of the vessels are. of
course. in bad conditions, owing to be-
ing tied up for nearly three years. In
most cases fires have been kept under
the boilers, preventing engines from
deteriorating to an absolutely useless
state, but owing to the wilful damage
done. it may take months to make re-
pairs.
Provision of the treaty of London
and The Hague convention. scra pped
by the belligerents during the war,
viii not bind the United States. il was
| officially indicated today.
Treaty Not Binding.
! In case of doubt. general principles
of international law will obtain in this
governments conduct
The state department hold today 1t
would he manifestly unfair to have
cne side adhere TO the conventions
while the other utterly disregarded
them.
/ Many of The Hague conventions are
not in effect at all. As for the treaty
Continued on Page Seven)