Honolulu star-bulletin., 1917-03-12
HARBOR BOARD TO
TELL IN SECRET
Why SHIPS STAY
Executive Session This Even
ING Will Give information on
German Steamers to House
Military Committee

At ESQ tflis afternoon the inyesti-
eating ecnssnitzee zppoIrked by tne'
harbor board to make 4 thorough ex-
amin alton Of the German refugee nner-
chant steamers Pomnern and Setos
to find whether there are any explo-
sives aboard or whether any prepara-
tions have been made to sink the ves-
sells at their berths began its work.
On the committee are, for the harbor
board, Commissioners c. J. Mccarthy,
w. a. Mcclellan and Z. NJ. Church.
For the harbormaster's and pilots Of
flee are cspts. William r.. Foster, har-
bormaster; M. A. Madsen and John E.
HagIund. FOR n. HackfeId q Company
are E. kopke, {. Deinat and r. Waak.
The engineer included In the commit
tee is Richard Leach.
At an executive meeting to be held
at 7:30 o'clock this evening the mill:
tary committee of the house expects
to receive from the harbor board a
complete answer to the question why
the German refugee ships have not
been removed from Honolulu harb0r,
as requested In house resolution A.
THE board has not yet given the
committee complete answer" says
Committee Chairman Evan da Silva.
There are one or two points to be
cleared up. This probably will be
done this evening"
Chairman da Silva declines to dis
cuss the executive portion of meet
ing this morning of the harbor board
with the committee He says every
thing that happened will remain se-
cret. at least for the time being.
There are some reasons why we
have not moved the German ships
that could be told the committee in an
executive session" Chairman G. r..
Forbes of the harbor board said at
today's meeting. The board has de-
manded bond of H. Hackfeld & Co..
and has taken other measures to safe
guard government property. These |
do not care to discuss unless the at.
torney-general thinks it proper.
There are reasons why one or two
conditions that exist should not be
made public. The board proposes to
make public all matters pertaining to
this question except one item, and
that deals with certain federal juris-
diction and responsibility and should
not be made public" Forbes added.
Deputy Attorney-General A. G.
Smith said he had nothing to say.
Commissioner Wakefield was then
called on to outline the actions that
have been taken by the board regard
ing the German ships.
At this point the doors were closed
and the meeting became an executive
session.
Commissioner James Wakefield said
later:
1--WE told the committee all we could
say or tell relative to safeguarding
the interests of the territory and other
property owners on the Honolulu
waterfront, territorial. private, con-
signees and consignors of cargo.
"The commissioners, all Of whom
we're present with the exception OF
Col Mccarthy, made complete oral
statement to the committee outlining
all the harbor board has done relative
to the German ship situation"
Commissioner Wakefield added that
the $500, 900 indemnity bond, the form
OF which was approved Saturday by
the board Of harbor commissioners, as
already published in the Star-Bulletin,
was to be signed this afternoon by the
local agency for the refugee vessels,
II Harkfeld q Cosnnany