New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-10
CAPTAINS TO PICK
THEIR OWN ROUTES
Rochester and Orleans to
Carry War Munitions
Tanker Leads Way

/ U-boat zone. They will not be
/ striped in accordance with Berlin's
command, nor will they carry a
checkered flag from the masthead.
Both will carry the American flag
at the stern and their names and the
legend "U. S. A." will be painted
along their fianks in letters John
Hancock might envy.
In accordance with the American
statute two-thirds of their crews
will be Americans, and in accordance
with the American understanding of
sea rights they will carry munitions
of war and will follow whatever
course seems most desirable to their
shippers.
The Rochester. which is owned by
the Kerr Steamship Company, will
( also carry forty cases of Red Cross
supplies, which it is transporting
free of charge for German prisoners
in France. The Orleans is owned
by the Oriental Navigation Com
pany. The offices of both concerns
are at II Battery Place.
Not Making Test Case
'It should be distinctly understood
that we are not sending out the
! Rochester as a test case" one of the
| officials of the Kerr Steamship Line
said last night "The Rochester is
| sailing according to her regular sched-
ule. and We will continue to dispatch
: our steamers as advertised unless fu-
/ ture DEVELOPMENTS demand change in
policy
/ 'If the Rochester happens to be the
| first American ship to enter the sub
marine zone ! suppose it may become
a test case regardless of our inten-
! tions. After taking the matter up at
Washington we nave decided 10 allow
| the steamer 10 proceed, as she is with
out mounting guns of any sort"
Philip De Ronde, an American, is
! president of the Oriental Navigation
! Company, and John Sampson, an Eng
! lishman, is vice-president. Captain
Sampson was 'foremast hand in the
days when sailing ships outnumbered
the steamers. Wnen he became mas
ter he entered the employ Of the Pa
; cifc Steam Navigation Company,
. whose boats traversed the west coast
of South America. Later he was with
. the White Star Line and the Houston
Line.
Not Daunted by Germany
The Orleans was the Avellaneda, un-
der Argentine registry, when she ar
rived in New York last month. Sne
was transferred to American registry
and sent to load for Bordeaux.
The tank steamer Gold Shell, which
nut to sea Yesterday from Wilmington,
! Del. bound for France, was the first
vessel fying the American flag TO at
toront the sea lanes Germany declared
closed on January 81.
Az the American Line Offices yester-
dav IL was said that no definite date
bsd been set for the departure OF the
81 Louis, which has been ready to sail
since the day the break came.
Officials Still Undecided
When she will clear, and whether she
will carry guns, still remain unan-
swered questions. P. A. ,. Franklin,
president Of the international Mercan-
tile Marine, which controls the Ameri-
can Line. said yesterday:
"Tbe situation still remains as it was
two davs ago. As soon as the oihclals
of the line have arrived at a decision
the public will be informed.
The conditions applying TO the 81.
7. .ouis also confront her sister snip, TIE
81. Paul, which is held here and ready
to sail.
Officials Of the American Line would
not comment yesterday on the report
that the Philadelphia would SAIL from
Liverpool to-day. In shipping circles II
: was the general belief that she would
sail. and the lnternationa! Mercantile
Marine announcement that passengers
on the White Star Line would be al
, forded the protection OF the brlt,sI
Acct while in the war zone ADDED
? weight TO this impression. Although
/ the American Line flies the United
: States flag. il is controlled by the same
cornoration as the White Star Line.
and il is thought that the vessels OF
both companies Will receive like treat
ment.
, Gunners Apply for Work
Several men who had foImerly o.en
gunners in the navy applied at the
= Brooklyn navy yard yesterday, under
the impression that the government
was 10 furnish the gun crews II mer
. chantmen should arm. They, were IN
c formed that the government had noth-
= ing 10 do with whatever measures the
. ,hIp owners might take, and were re-
s ferred 20 the American Line.
- Another report said yesterday tha'
ten guns were on tAeir way for the
American Line from various naval sta.
tions, and ammunition to the amoun'
Of 100 rounds per gun accompanied
them.
Officials Of the Holland d-America Line
% here received wireless messages from
. the Ryndam yesterday. saying that. &C