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

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
man refugee steamers to protect both
|! the local harbor and wharyes and the
vessels themselves.
A harbor board meeffng was called
by Chairman Forbes 1or lao this aft
ernoon. to get report from the COM
mittee which searcheA the Pommern
and Setos. The reIiDft was in writ
ten form this morns1ig 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 hurfyupkyfa e 1hHy were
to be Instructed to DO so.
Yesterday there were reports that
the statement by the committee to-
day would deal with the copdition OF
sea-cocks, valves. ETC., but that no
explosives had been found.
Rumor OF Washington Action
The Star-Bulletin heard a report
take some action regarding the NOV
ing of the ships and that the harbor
board would soon know definitely how
far 1t can go in sending them outside
,er putting armed guards aboard. II.
was limited the state department has
taken the matter up again.
IN the meantime there are renewals
OF the report that Fl. Hackfeld &
Company, agents for the vessels.
nav decline to sign the proposed
s500,000 bond. which is supposed vir-
tuaIIy 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 joday
when the harbor board sent letter
to the house of representatives de-
cfaring that under present i,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 the reporter to the agency's
attorneys, Thompson, Milvertou &
Cathcart.
I'VE received tie bond form Tues
day morning" said Attorney Thomp-
son .ft the firms office. and we will
give Hackfeld e COMPANY an opinion
on it this afternoon or this evening.
Treaty Rights Looked Up
To-day we are running down some
treaty rights and as soon as that is
finished we will write our opinion and
send It to the company"
It 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 blowing-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
tuAcCfO HllINCh 1CPOkb " AlhO
findings of the investigating commit |
tee. of which he is chairman, and
which searched the refugee German
steamers Pommern and Sc |
tos, the two vessels named in the
100000 indemnity bond, to see elf
any explosives were aboard or IL any
preparations had been made to scut-
tie them at their docks in the event
Of war with Germany.
. Harbormaster Fosters report is ac-
by supplementary report |
filed by Richard L. Leach. chief en-
gineer of the Inter.Isiand steamer Mi
kahala, who served as the "compe.
tent Techanic' named in the motion. /
to assist the committee in its search. /
Hartor Board lnforms House
That the German refugee ships had
best be allowed to remain In Homo |
lulu harbor, under q heavy bond as !
(Continued On mage fhree1