Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-12-06
An Explanation and a Pledge

Their responsibility to the American c0mmunit.
in which they reside has been recognized by the Nv
Honolulans on trial in San Francisco-George 10
dick and II. 4. Schroeder. The statement whlcI
they made to the court yesterday is published in full
bv the Star Bulletin today. having been cabed her
at the instance of the two defendants.
The community has no wish to PREJUDICE then
nor unduIy to hold against them actions investlgat
ed by the district attorney al San Francesca ana D.
him evidently believed to have eXtenuatlnS clrrun
stances. In fact. long after German consuls an'
consular Offices elsewhere had been directly impli
Gated in gross violations of neutrality; after IN
trail of intrigue corruption and plotting had lee
directly Mp to the highest German office In IN
United States-that of the German ambassador
the disposition in Hawaii to hope and perhap
in most cases TO believe that the German consulate
here had kept clear of any such pernicious actv
tiles The two defendants Mr.. Rodek particularly
had been valued members of the business commun
ity, with wide acquaintances and friendships When
therefore news was made public of their indict
ment for connection with the Hindu plot, the re
action of resentment was the more severe.
That the district attorney accepts plea of guilt.
emphasized as a plea of guilty to technical VIC
1ation of the neutrality law aone-and that this ii
accompanied by the statement published elsewhere
today, is development which will be viewed no
only for it's own Importance, but in the light of thu
defendants closing statement: =.
"They intend By the future conduct and futar
residence in their Hatcaiidn home to confirm tn
respect and confidence of their neighbOrs and thet
right to fellowship toith American citizens"
Denying in detail any connection with the 1ndi;
conspiracy, and Offering lengthy written state
ment statement in defense of their actions, Messrs
Georg' Rodiek and H. A. Schroeder have made ex
PLANTATION of dealings with the mystery ship Nav
eriek The explanation is that their relations witt
the Maverick we're purely commercial transactions
There is one incident of more recent date whicl
still awaits explanation. That is the disabling o
the cruiser Geier and Of German refugee vessels il
the harbor of Honolulu.
In the records of the department of public work
of this territory there is the stenographc report
q conversation Of March s, 1917, between Snperin
tendent Forbes, j. f. @. Hagens and F. w. Klebahn
the latter being the manager of the shipping depart
ment of Hackfeld s Company. The conference wa
upon the proposed moving Of German vessels lynn
at Honolulu docks, whose presence was felt to be-
menace because they might be blownsup or sunk a
their moorings by the Germans.
Superintendent Forbes inquired the cause OF tn
damage fthen already donel to the ships Pommerl
and Setos. The following conversation then ensued
according to this stenographic report:
Mr.. Klebahn answering inquiry as to cause Of
damage; 81 do not know. Il simply know the dam
age is done and there will be further damage to
the vessels. only repeat this and give you the
same assurance as gave the governor the tee-
phone at p. N. last Monday, that whatever damage
there to the vessels had been done and nothing
further would happen to these vessels"
Mr.. Forbes sDosyou guarantee that?"
Mr. Klebahn: THAT is my personal assurance"
Mr. Klebahn's statement that he could give hi
personal assurance that there would be no furthe
damage to the vessels raises the question as to hoy
he could give this assurance. From what source
further damage? From what sources and by wha
medium were the orders for Gripping the vessel
transmitted to the German ship officers?
In his statement to the court at San Francisc,
yesterday Mr.. Rodiek declared that his patriotism
md affirmed that he expects to enjoy the confidence
Of his neighbors and the rights of fellowship Will
American citizens He said also that the state
ment was made in fairness to themselves and t,
Americans in Hawaii.
Americans in Hawaii cannot help but feel that ii
fairness to the citizens here resident there be ex
planned the exact circumstances under which th
officers of the German ships here received their or
ders to disable the vessels. That would clear th
atmosphere of one cloud as the San Francisco tria
is clearing it of another.
.rr.-s -
1t will not do TO be too OPTIMISTIC of the futur
on the Italian front. The beating which Gen
Cadorna's army received on the Isonzo front ha
greatly disorganized the troops, and though the,