Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-03-06

YET REACHED ON
MOV|NGOF SHIPS
Continued from page onel

Continued from page one)
no sooner asked HIN a question than
the attorney-general and his deputy,
followed by Harbormaster Foster. en-
tered the office.
Then is it settled that the board
viii move the Pommern and Setos
outside?" asked the reporter.
Yes, answered Forbes. I'VE
went on record yesterday to move
them
NO" sharply interjected Deputy
Acknowledgement Smith. you referred
the matter to the attorney-general's
department for consideration and we
have not yet rendered written opin-
ion on 1t.
At this point Acknowledgement
Stainback said In reply to question
from the reporter, that he had told
the board it could move the ships if II
wanted to-" at the boards executive
session Monday, at which the board
came out of executive session long
enough % pass a resolution to move
the Posnmern and Setos outside.
Decide On Another Session
Forbes then requested the newspa-
perman to leave the office for a few
minutes. On conclusion of the con-
ference he told him that an executive
session would be held at 1889 this aft
ernoon and that following it there
would probably be an announcement
for the press. Forbes first set 2
o'clock as the hour but on a re-
quest from Commissioner Church
made II half an hour earlier.
A report which came to the Star
Bulletin this morning was that Col
lector Of the Port Malcolm A. Frank
lin would refuse to allow the German
refugee merchantmen to be moved
outside. tine harbor board can do
as It pleases so far as i am concern
ed, said the collector.
Berths Badly Needed Now
Commissioner James Wakefield
said this morning the board at its
executive session Monday voted to do
what We have wanted to do for the
last two and a half years. -
The refugee German steamers
have been menace and q drawback
TO the commerce of this port he
said. There would have been no
danger to them lying outside had they
not wilfully destroyed their machin-
cry. We have ordered the Pommern
and Setos to move because we need
their room at Pier and Pier L.
In the last few days the crews of
the merchantmen are said by customs
inspectors on duty watching the yes
sells to have been painting out rust
spots and giving the engine rooms
and machinery of the vessels thor
ough cleanup.
hiosNetiflQakioh Received
II w Klebahn, manager of Hack
field e gCoinpanyss shipping depart
ment, said at noon today he had not
received any notification from the har-
bormasterfto move the Pommern and
Setos outside within "a hours. 1t is
known today that no such notice will
be sent until after a definite decision
In the matter is reached at the execu-
tive session this afternoon. Probably
a longer time than "a hours would be
required to make the vessels ready by
taking on provisions, coal for cooking,
extra anchor lines and various equip
ment for holding the big freighters
safe at anchorage In case Of kona
storms. The harbormaster at s.
o'clock Monday afternoon received In
to serve notice on the local
agency today to move the two freight,
srs outside within "a hours from the
Time of serving such notice, but he is
holding off pending this afternoons
i
In commenting on the situation to-
lay Deputy Attorney General Arthur
G. Smith said there are two questions
10 be decided before definite action.
toward moving. the refugees can be
taken. They are, first, whether the
board has authority to move them,
and second. whether it really wants
% do So" he said.
House Committee Silent
There are to be no leaks" from the
house committee on police and mill
Lary affairs, declares Chairman Evan.
gelino da Silva.
representative Kelekolio.s resolu.
ion that the German refugee ships be
forced to yacate Honolulu harbor, on
The presumption that danger may
Turk in any future attempts to further
damage or destroy the vessels. is be-
ng considered by the committee with
he utmost secrecy, having been taken
I'D for discussion at meeting late
Monday afternoon.
Writes Attorney General
The committee, it was learned to-
lay, has addressed letter to the at
.orney general and to naval and mill
AIRY authorities requesting information
is to the possibilities Of danger
through allowing the ships to remain !
where they are now.
Chairman ,da Silva declined to make |
he communication public, saying that
{ was confidential matter and that
he committee is not yet ready to give
,ut the details of its transactions with |
,egard to this particular matter.
As soon as replies are received to
he communication, the committee ex
poets to make a4fnll report to the
rouse on the resolution.
afraa A Al tafn0 MArE All ION