The sun., 1917-02-07
WRBCKING0F91
SHIPS0RDERED
ONE WEEK AGO
COrrObOratiOn of The Suns
Exclusive Story to Be
Sent Wilson.
CAN'T REPAIR BOATS
WITHIN 8 MONTHS
TeutOn GunbOat Geier at
Honolulu Was Set on
Fire at Signal.

Corrobo-ation OF THE Suns story that
every German and Austrian ship In
New York harbor has been disabled by
The wrecking of It's engines In order
that the United States might not use
the merchant vessels In case of war was
obtained yesterday from new and un-
questionable sources.
The act Of unmatched sacrifice was
committed on Wednesday OF last week.
ne very day on which the German note
announcing the resumption of extreme
suomar'ne warfare and prescribing a
1ow war zone was delivered to Secretary
Lansing by Ambassador Won Bernstorff.
Under orders which apparently came
rom Germany at about the same time
as the note and were delivered stimuli.
taneousiy to tile commanders of each of
the thirty-one vessels OF the Central Al.
hes self-interned Mt this port the en-
gineers We're at work before nightfall
smashing steel and brass.
None OF the fleet was spared, accord
tng to THE SUNS Information. From
the Vsterland, the George Washington
and the Kaiser Wilhelm IL. down to the
smallest freighter all shared in the de-
struction.
Eight Months to Repair Them.
Before daylight on Thursday every
vessel was crirpled beyond the possibil-
!ty of repair within at least eight
nonths--poesibiy irreparable. except by
German artisans who know the secrets
Of their engines.
she .hIns living ir S.u, yorL hsrhor Nh.
nresun,n,;o, is ,h,t ordars ,o dJ.ah,a ali
the German ara Austr,,n ,,,arohar, .h,,.
In all Ar.rI,a, nor,s ,,,s,.a a,s,.a a /,
,bs samo ,ino 60 Tar .s ,.,ss.a,,h 90
hIa or ,,,tra,a a,rn,,,,,,,as ,;t
Th.ro are rin.,y-ora Garn,an ,,srnhan,
yessais ,n Aar,., ta.h.- ir,,na,,',- -
,ns,,,-,hrao ;,' - ph,,,,,,,. % Ia o,,
IN ee IL, 'iie inl.pp'es .iu o''o
=. 10 eei '"'il tia' 'a.e o,'
euo", tIi ""s "s. v" e ~
c s,eM a. i,oloiu,u 'i.,iiaI nas. "aruias ,,,.
S.', a..0. ~
',..s, 10 ~ ny
Is, s, !" '".eeusa,ei dc 'ioiousn!S as 'ns.
cn III ,He .ace oi 'ne iac. lhat Tue
'''an anu austrian sn'ps are pINa'e
nAs peen Denied Tor more tnan week
Jnvestisator. Find RuIn.
yesterday afternoon the investigators
nau ABOUT made up their minds that the
Na'erIahu ana the other pig Doats mad
"ot Deeh tampered with. They were un-
ape at that time to get any positive
Information ABOUT these vessels They
d!d find out, however. that four OF the
smaller craft had been crippled In the
manner described by THE Sun.
Last night certain facts already In
the possession of this newspaper came
to the knowledge OF the Government;
workers. To-day's report to Washing
ton Will undoubtedly say that while none
Of the Federal agents has actually seen
the engine and boiler rooms Of the
vessels other than the four mentioned
above there IL reason to believe that
commission.
Lloyd nor Hambure. American comma MES
made denial OF THE SI-S,s story yester-
day, there was disposition in some
quarters 10 question. and some of the
evening newspapers. Insuff,cient,y in
formed. attempted 20 discredi, n The
Government has the facts however.
VisStor~ Rnrred since lar. Al.
As heretofore stateu. since January
81. "hen the German announcement OF
rev submarine tactics was received in
ms country. the neutrality squad OF
VIC Chiteo STATES customs service mas
nor nor eeeh ailowed 70 penetrate peiow
he upper decks OF the 'ateriand ana
tne other o'g merchant vessels which
.or Two years and haif have been
sro~ins oarnacles on their idie huIis:
inls was supposed 70 be the result OF
az Vucr from the ScdH
sec,nS norm M Gesmsn Ter an! L1ys ,Sv eUmpass mes