Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-02-01

had fires underneath her boilers. A
light flow OF smoke was observed 70
be coming from her funnel. and; ac'
eording 10 port officials, most OF the
merchantmen have had steam up for
the last "a hours "a -.
Two Surely Detained
There is nothing at this time to
stop the eight merchantmen from
leaving port and risking capture by
going to sea, as they are only mer.
chant steamers and would not be VIC
lsting any neutrality regulations by
leaving. The interned German naval
gunboat Geier and her collier. the
Locksun, VIII not be allowed by the
q. S. naval authorities of the Pearl
Harbor naval station to leave port
until the war is ended. ~.
ST. Louis Is Off Port
What is called by waterfront men
another significant development in
the now threatening state of affairs
is that the L. S. s. st. Louis, the
only American cruiser stationed
here, is today steaming slowly back
and forth off port almost directly
across the harbor channel. so that il
would be impossible for any boat to
leave without being observed by the
cruiser r ~ ... 9ss-
When. this fact was called today
to the attention of naval officers in
charge Of the old naval sta ton or
Allen street, under the jurisdiction OF
Pearl Harbor, they sad the ST. Louis
is on target practise and that they
had not received any instructions from
on the movements Of the German
naval or merchant vessels in port
They would not say whether they be
lieved the position of the ST. Louis
practically across the harbor en-
trance was the result of possible or
ders from Washington last night Il
prevent any German vessels from
going out
Only Connecting Rods Taken
The twin screw propellers of thu
interned German gunboat Geier are
still in place. They were not removed
by the u. s.. naval authorities at this
port when she was informed in 1911
When the Geier was in drydock las
summer both screws could be ant
were plainly seen by harbor official.
and customs inspectors, who told tn.
Star Bulletin so this morning.
When the Geier was interned this
connecting rods of her engines were
taken off Whether they were take:
to the naval station and placed tiers
for safe keeping, or sealed and lef
aboard the gunboat, could not b,
ascertained this morning. The Allel
street naval station officers said the,
did not know and that Pearl Harbo
would have to be called up for sucl
Information. ItEwas also said toda.
the Geier's main steam pipe had beer
disconnected by the naval authorities
which would render her helpless t,
move.
Armed sentries keep watch at thu
navy pier day and night so that an!
attempt of the Geier to break intern
fment and make q dash to sea would
result in Immediate notification o
United States naval authorities by tn,
sentries.
Geier Crew Holds Drill
1t is known that Wednesday morn
ing about Z o'clock the Geier's crev
held the naval drill known by nav.
men as tout and away" the drill pre-
seribed by naval regulations for US
by landing parties going ashore on
beach from naval vessels anchored on
at sea. This is a drill not frequentl
done, according to waterfront me
who have seen the Geier's men drill
ing every day for two years.
HackfeId's Has Coal
There are said to be 1000 tons Q
| coal at the .Hackfeld wharf to suppl
the refugee merchantmen with fut
in case they we're ordered at any tim
by the harbor board to leave thei
berths and anchor outside. Whethe
any of the refugee freighters in tn
Eva basin have been taking COZ
aboard ION the quiet" in preparatio
for departure is a mooted questio
among waterfront men today. The
ewere of the opinion that such bunke
ing could have been done easily witt
out attracting any attention
This morning there was no unusuf
4 sign of activity aboard the Germa
vessels. The Geier's crew was bus
washing uniforms and the big hull {
\ the Pommern was being given ne
| coat of black paint above the waite
/ line and the usual red lead below
Painting OF the big freighter has bee
in progress since the first of the weel