Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-03-14
SEARCH REPORTED
] ON GERMAN SHIPS
House Public Lands Committee
Calls Meeting; Rumor Coun-
ter for Forbes Attack

= = r. 4 l
Many angles are developing today
in the German ship situation the
efforts of the harbor board to find
some method of disposing of the Ger
nan refugee steamers to protect both
the local harbor and wharves and the
vessels themselves.
A harbor board meeting was called
by Chairman Forbes for LAO this aft
ernoon, to get report from the COM
mittee which searched the Pommern
and Setos The report was in writ
ten form this morning but Forbes re-
fused to divulge its contents.
The committee searched the steam
ers to see If any explosives could be
found. also to see what measures had
been take nby the crews to sink the
vessels in hurrgup>sl RE 81 they
to be instructed to do so.
Yesterday there were reports that
the statement by the committee to-.
day would deal with the condition of
sea-cocks, valves, etc., but that no
explosives had been found.
Runor OF Washington Action
The Star Bulletin heard a report
down town that Washington would
take some action regarding the NOV
ing Of the ships and that the harbor
board would soon know definitely how
far it can go in sending. them outside
or putting armed guards aboard. It
was limited the state department has
taken the matter up again.
In the meantime there are renewals
OF the report that Fl. Hackfeld e
Company. agents for the vessels.
may decline to sign the proposed
100000 bend, which Is supposed vir-
ttally to guarantee the good conduct"
of the German ships. In this connec-
ton the question OF treaty rights
comes up.
House Gets Boards Letter
Another angle, developed ;oday
when the harbor board sent a letter
to the house of Representatives de-
claring that under present t.ircum-
stances the ships had better stay at
their piers
On being asked by the Star Bulletin
this morning what the status Of the
bend sent to the local agency for the
German steamers Tuesday morning
now is. Vice President Georg Rodiek
of H. Hackfeld & Company. Ltd, re-
ferred tm reporter to the agency's
attorneys, Thompson, Milverton &
Cathcart.
"We received the bond form Tues
day morning." said Attorney ThonfD-
ron at the firms office. and we will
kive Hackfeld & Company an opinion |
on II this afternoon or this evening. !
Treaty Rights Looked Up
Today we are running down. some |
treaty rights and as soon as that Is !
We will write our opinion and !
send it to the company"
1t is understood that the treaty
rights" referred to by the attorneys
are treaties between the United States
and Germany which might render in
valid certain vital portions OF the
bond form as now drawn up to protect
the interests of the territory in case /
Of war and a possible bfowing-up or !
sinking of the vessels by their crews.
Harbormaster Capt. William r. Fos-
ter said this morning that he had .
turned in to Chairman Charles r.
Forbes Of the board of harbor COM
liltS6lOucTS WFIIt6H TGpOTI U HIuc
findings Of the investigating commit
tee. of which he Is chairman, and /
which searched the refugee German
steamers Pommern and Sc
los, the two vessels named in the
$500, 900 indemnity bond, to see elf
any explosives were aboard or IL any
had been made to scut-
lie them at their docks in the event
Of war with Germany.
Harbormaster Fosters report is &C.
bv a supplementary report !
filed by Richard l.. Leach, chief en-
sineer of the Inter-Island steamer Mi
kahala, who served as the "compe. +
.ent mechanic" named in the motion.
% assist the committee in its search.
iarbor Board Informs House
That the German refugee ships had
best be allowed to remain in Homo
lulu harbor, under heavy bond as
CONTINUED on page three) j