Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-02-26
MANY OFFICERS
OF MATSONLINE
MAYBEEMISTED
Great Northern Men Go Into
Naval Reserve and Other
Additions Expected

With the torpedoing Of the cunard
liner Laconia today. lending increas-
ing tensfty 10 the international situa-
ton. Il Il believed that the arrival OF
Che Matson liner Matsonia Tomorrow
morning from San Francisco viii see
active steps taken by the Pearl Har-
Dor United States naval station author
tiles toward enrolling the Matson
flagship's officers and crew in the ma
tal reserve 80 the big liner eould be
placed quickly in the service OF the
United States in case OF war with
Germany.
May Enlist Matson Officers
ID was stated today by Manager
John II. Drew of the shipping depart
ment OF Castle. & Cooke, Ltd. the 10
cal sIatsbn agency. that the Matsonia,
Wflhelmina, and the new flagship
Maui, which duplicates the Matsonia
In size and viii be ready for sea IN
April, are ali fitted up as auxiliary
naval cruisers under the Act OF Con
gress OF March 3. 1891.
'.The three liners are all equipped
so that they can lie converted toR
short notice into auxiliary cruisers"
said Manager Drew. Il think II likely
that the government II II does take
action toward enrolling the officers
and men in the naval reserve might do
30 through the San Francisco offices
OF the Matson Navigation Company |
have received no communication from
Captain Clark of Pearl Harbor relative
70 the Manoa, but as she is not fitted
mp Tor conversion into an auxiliary.
cruiser doubt n her officers and crew
would be enrolled"
Clark viii Not Talk
When called up over the telephone
shortly before noon today Captain
George r. Clark. commandant OF the
Pearl Harbor naval station. said he
could not discuss the naval reserve
situation because OF orders from the
navy department. He declined to conf
ment on the visit OF Pearl Harbor ma
val authorities to the Hin liner Great
Northern Saturday, when the big tur-
liners commander, Capt. A. Amman,
her officers and number of the
crew, had the proposition Of joining
the naval reserve put up to them. with
the result that nearly all of them en-
listed. Captain Ahman's title in the
reserve IL utenant-commander.
II was also considered likely that
Lieut.. b. r. Tilley. aide to Captain
Clark OF Pearl Harbor. would visit the
Oceanic liner Sierra, IN port this aft
ernoon. TO enroll her officers and
crew The Oceanic lines steamers 81
ezra, ,Sonema and Ventura are all reg
istered under the auxiliary act. They
ply between San Francisco, Honolulu.
paeo-paeo and Sydney.
nulIt For Naval Use
The act. q copy Of which Is on file
N the office Of Collector OF the Port
Malcolm A. Franklin. specifies in brief.
about MS follows:
All steamships OF the first, second
and third class, in order to be accept.
I'd for United States mail service:
shall be constructed with particular
rfierepce to prompt and. economical
conversion into auxiliary naval cruis-
ers The law provides that such YES.
eeIs shall be ~of sufficient strength
70 carry e least four rifled
cannon Of caliber not less than six
inches" II the act is complied with
the steamers can be accepted for mail
service
! Another clause OF the act reads:
Such steamers may be taken and
used by the United States as trans
ports or cruisers upon payment to the
owners OF their fair actual value at
the time OF taking