The Hawaiian gazette., 1917-02-06

Ahlers, at anchor in Hilo bay, has
been disabled by her crew, as eight
vessels here were disabled The en-
gines Of the Alters have been broken,
bnt, 80 far as known nov, her boilers
have not burned out The boilers Of
al the eight refugees here were burned
and the engines q all except the setos
were smashed.
This completes the list Of German
merchantmen in Hawaiian waters. All
have been disabled.
United States soldiers took posses.
sion Of the vessel yesterday It IS pre-
sumed that her crew will be brought
here 70 be turned over to immigration
authorities. The last Of December
she had nine Caucasians and eight Fl
Ilipinos in her crew. The Fiiipinos had
not been signed on, being employed
only by the day, and SO hardly could
be regarded as of her crew, =
Seek to Recover, Ships
Legal action looking toward the Ere.
eoveryn Of German refugee vessels and
habeas corpus proceedings for the re-
lease Of their crews are being consid-
cred by Thompson, Milyefton & Cath
cart attorneys for H. Hackfeld q
Co., agents for the principal German
steamship lines. Judge John A. Mat
thewman, Of the law shrm, Was asked
yesterday afternoon whether any ac.'
tion either of ,mandamus or injunction
looking toward recovery OF the ves
sells would be brought. He could not
say definitely, be replied. A sweep Of
the hand Indicated several law books
lying upon his desk, which testified TO-
the study be had given. the case.
The harbof board moved yesterday 10
have the German refugees taken to
Pearl Harbor.
j Judge Matthewman visited Acting
Collector Of Customs Raymer Sharp yes
terday afternoon and United States
District Attorney 8. c. Huber few
i minutes later. He inquired as to the
status Of tie essels. In each Office be
encountered velvet fence. Wiz
without Legal Warrant ID
One significant statement made by
Judge Mattheyman was that ii had
been admitted by an official that the
turning over of the crews Of the Pom
mern and Prinz Waldemar by United
Estates Commissioners Curry to the immi-
grafton service was without warrant Of
law. AS to the crews. Of the other mer.
chantmen, who had not been arrested as
those Of the Popmern and Pfiaz Waldo
mar were, Judge Matthewman said that
they were not seeking admission to the
country.
The velvet fence vas not surmopnt,
ed. Mr.. Sharp told Judge Mathew
man that he had not "seized' the yes.
sells. Mr.. Huber objected to the ex-
preston used by the Judge taken
Mr.. Sharp explained to The Judge
that he had assumed charge Of the
ships as police and misrepresentation
airy measure, to prever. any damage be-
ing done to government property
through Blowing up or scnttling Of the
vessels. Mr.. Huber reiterated to the
Judge the policy of ale United States
government toward the vessels.
May Not Press Charges
, Mr.. Huber said that Section 1902
Revised Statutes, prohibited willfuI de.
struction or extensive .lmage to a yes,
sci by master, seaman or apprentice IN
q der penalty Of not to exceed twelve
!. months imprisonment. He could not
say whether charges already brought
against members Of the crews of the
Pommern and Prinz Waldemar would
, be pressed. This rested altogether
!. with Washington, he said. Doubtless
the course Of the government win be
dictated by Developments in the inter
: national situation. "A preliminary hear
, ing Of the PommeTn and Waldemal
! leases has been set for next Monday.
The case in brief is, or course, that
. the ships win be in charge of United
| Estates officials Just as long as tht
United States, government chooses
!, There is possibility that the move Of
1.-THE agents, was not directed toward &C
8 lthpl q recovery OF the ships, but, in
I stead, was looking forward TO future
Q settlement of the question of wharfag,
$ and other charges, This would reduce
q the Significance Of yesterday Z action.
d There was Q persistent rumor yester
o day afternoon that habeas corpus pro
T ceedings were TO be instituted by
Thompson, Milvefton 3 Cathcart, witt
( q view to obtqipiRg the release of tn,
81 Germqn sailors detained at the Unitet
States immigration station. Nothing
n definite could be ascertaiped as to this.
Q Halsey Keeping Mum" d,
Judge Mattheyman stated last nigh
e that, while the status of the German
!; tsailors was being caref, - looked into
J. he was unable to. say whether the mat
J: ter Of the Institution Of habeas corpu
d proceedings on their behalf was .beinl
I considered specifically.
II r. L, Halsey, Unified States immigra
tion inspector, refused to confirm tn
!, report. He said that he had heard I
. number Of rum6rs, and that that per
q tanning to habeas corpus proceeding
e might or might not be one OF them. HI
5 denied that any process had beel
served on him.
4 When the order came from Washing
ton ordering Inspector Halsey to TAX
: charge of the German sailors, subjec
, to action on the part of the department
OF justice aud treasury departments
Georg Rodiek, German consul, at flrs
y demurred to such action being taken
Q stating that the men were under IT,
h control or the consuF. When told b,
Y the federal authorities that, unless b
0 withdrew his objection, warrants ~
4 the arrest Of every German sailor 4
I port would be served, he accepted ~
tsituation. .''+%