The Hawaiian gazette., 1917-06-22
Government Releases Big Liners
But Serves Notice It Will
Take Them Over Later
MATSoN COMPANY MAY LOSE
ALL FOUR OF ITS VESSELS
Present Situation Is improved
But Future Is Left Doubtful
and Threatening

n The government reqmsitioned the
Matson liners Maui and Matsonia for
immediate use, later changed it's mind
md while now warning the company
chat they win be ultimately taken
over, they win continue for an indeh.
ate period on the local service.
This, in brief, is the summary of the
developments yesterday in the local
shipping situation which has been wor.
lying shipping and commercial men
here since the first cable was received
a week ago. ..
The most important contribution TO
the record yesterday was an -Asso.
eiated Press despatch received yester.
Jay afternoon by The Advertiser, as
z SAN FRANcIsoo, june 1s-rhe
Matson schedule will continue for an
indefinite period, sailings remaining
unchanged, The government, however,
has served notice that the boats viii
be ultimately requiAtioned but no d.
rect orders have yet been received.
The situation instead of improving
with this slight CLEAN of hope, has
been rendered rather more alarming by
other developments. The Associated
Press despatch gave no indication that
it. did not mean the entire Matson
heet would be requisitioned, while a
letter from ID. M. Linnard, president
of the Southern California Realty
Board, to A. p. Taylor of the promo.
tion committee, contains the following
paragraph: " ~
Had an interview yesterday with
the assistant general pnssenger AGENT
, fEthe Matsonf Navigation Companv,
lie advises me that government agents
anne in ON them unexpectedIy yester.
lay and no doubt will take over all
four of their boats for hospital ser.
vice. 49,. e. H.. .gr'.
The letter is dated Juno IL. The
company was therefore FIRST notified of
the impending reauisition on June IL.
Agency Uncertain Of Future
81 = C..I -, ,
us. no.' coVhe, iTcal agents Oh tne
. nasson NaElsativh company were yes
"y nv So.e 70 si'o Ilore lnLorNna'
- 'a"n tn". w Nssseis "oulu con
servicc. a cabIe was reseivod yostor,
day morning. hlssaddition TO a letter
rom Capt. William Matson, to +. d.
Penney, vice president and general
.nanagGr of Castle 4 Cooke. r5.,I7
The cable was in answer to one des-
patched by the agents the night be
fore requesting further details. 1t
stated that the Maui would sail on
June 9th for Honolulu and that fur
thur business was being booked as usual
for the two liners and the fleet as a
whole. -" ...ts.
1t is apparent that the Matson Nav
CATION Company itself is not certain
$ to the future status of the ships but
las been placed in n position. where it
nay expect rcquisitiOn at. any time.
T. Captain MatSon, in writing to ,Mr.
fenney, states that the Matsonia was
measured by the federal agents for a
hospital ship and that the Emitted
states has the right to take over
steamers and Tx u price to be paid the
owners for them. He is endeavoring,
he says, to secure two German steamers
If the MatsOna is taken over, and two
more If the Maui is taken over.
Matsonia Actually Seized
: ,,,.tTbis vessel :, slated Msn.gar Joho
ri Drew of the sb;nn;ng Recruitment of
Castle a. Conkc vesterdov twas oc
tuaIIy seized Ly the Government "a she
law ~ The wharf Of San Franc;sro
btlf Ioo5sd for tho IsIonds Cantain
MatsonFat nnre sent taIeSrnmp 70
Wasbington. no;nting- ont tho bardsbin
- l,I. " - 80