The Hawaiian gazette., 1917-02-13
OF AHLERS
A polite AFFAIR
Crew, Soldiers and Officials Live
On Board Like a Happy
i Family
(MaIl specIal . INC Adyertiserl

Naoh opeclhl 70 The AdVoruSerD
HH4o, February There was just a
little touch of war brought home to the
peaceful port OF Hilo last Monday
afternoon, when squad Of soldiers
from Company b, Twenty-ffth Infan.
try, U. >. A., under command Of Cap.
tain McNab, came into town from the
military camp at Kilauea Volcano to
the national guard armory, and then
proceeded, under the direction of Depp,
ty Collector Of Customs Byron K.
Baird, practically TO take possession of
the German interned steamer o. J. ID.
Alters, Capt. Il. Eelbo. $40.
There was no furry or excitement
about the affair Deputy Collector
Baird, Captain McNab, Captain Nit.
chell, Medical Corps, Lieut.. G. H. Bone.
steel, two United States deputy mar
shals, James r. Pierce and o. VI.
Startzer, with the seventeen men of
the Twenty-ffth Infantry, boarded
launches at the landing and went out
to where the steamer was anchored and
a moment later were in command. d.
Company Went Armed =,
The officers shortly afterward re-.
turned to shore, Captain McNab re.
turning TO the military camp 70 rejoin
the rest Of the company, which came
from Honolulu on the Mauna Kea on
Sunday, accompanied by Captain
Mitchell, leaving only the deputy mar,
shals and a sergeant and sixteen men
Of Company b on board the steamer
in possession, but which is called hold.
ing the vessel under patrol. - ~. =.
An unusual feature Of the arrival
here Of Company b was the fact that
heretofore when company of soldiers
have come here to- visit the military
camp and the volcano they have not
been burdcned with rifles and ammuni-
tion and full war kit. The members
of Company b, all colored soldiers, are
fully armed with rifles, kit and ammu-
milton.
While in charge of the steamer the
soldiers will be on guard duty four
mounting guard at time, and none Of
the officers or members of the crew of
the o. J. ID. Alters are allowed in the
engine room, or in the hold, unless ac-
companied by an armed guard. There
are nine men of the crew still on board
the steamer. ~
omaSncu Jno Engines I.t.r.
1t was stated yesterday that the en-
gines of the Alters have been put out
of commission and cannot be used. At
the request Of Deputy Collector Baird,
George ID. Russell, manager of the Hilo
Iron Works, and James Kennedy, ex-
pert engineer, made careful examine
tion Of the engines of the steamer, and
it is stated that their report is to the
effect that it win cost large sum Of
money TO place the engines in work
ing order again.
Deputy United States MarshaIs
Pierce and Starter are on board of
the steamer representing the authority
of the United States under the direc-
tion of Deputy Collector Baird, while
the soldiers are there simply as a.
guard, but not under the orders of the
deputies personally. 1 81. "A
Polite All Around ~ 'l@,".. 4
When the officers boarded the steam
er on Monday a search was instituted
for any arms, but none was found
with the exception of a small rife, the
personal property of the second engi.
neer. The officers Of the steamer and
members of the crew, who are still on
board the steamer, received the board
ing party courteously, while there is
said to be the greatest courtesy OBJ
served now between the soldiers, the.
marshals and the officers and crew Of
the steamer. "..
Just how long the present situation
of affairs win last, or as to what will
be the final disposition of the interned
steamer, nobody at this time knows.
Deputy Collector Baird has reported in
full to Collector Sharp in Honolulu by
wireless and is awaiting further or
ders. .f.. ,,.& E.r