Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1917-04-10
TAKE AUSTRIAN SHIPSISIXTIEEEEN COUPLES WE'D
Crews Make no Resistance Some
Steamers Found to be Seriously
Damaged.

| New York, April 10.-Four Austrian
/ ships, one Of them a passenger liner,
| that have been self-interned here since
the beginning of the war, were seized
yesterday by custom officials acting
under instructions from Washington.
The officers and crews of the ships,
numbering in all 6S men, were sent
under guard to Ellis Island and in
termed with the crews taken from the
German ships seized last week.
The four ships seized were the pas
senger steamer Martha Washington,
of 1912 tons, built in 1908; Ida, 4,730
tons, built in 1906; Dora, 1887 tons,
! built in 1913, and the Himalaia 4,93S
tons, built in 1910. Fires were drawn
and guard of customs men was
! placed on. board 1t was unofficially
stated that hurried examination Of
the vessels led the officials to believe
that none of them had been damaged
to any serious extent.
Officers Make no Objections.
When notified that their ships were
to be seized, officers of the vessels
made no objections. The men on board
were soon ready to leave and, with
their personal belongings, were taken
to Ellis Island on immigration tugs.
The relatively few sailors found on
board. in comparison with the num-
her required to man the ships when
in service. is accounted for by state
ments that some of the crews had
been discharged and had obtained
other employment.
An unconfrmed report in marine
circles was that negotiations between
an American steamship company and
owners Of the four ships looking to
their purchase had been under way
for some weeks. an dthat if permitted,
the purchase now might be consum-
mated.
One Seized in Philadelphia.
ri.iladeiDhia, April l0.-The collcc-
ter 2f ti:a pert of Philadelphia yes
tcrd0y tooi; physical possession Of
the Austrian steamer Franconia, war
bound here since the European wal
began.
Six customs officers boarded the
steamer soon after word was offic-
tally received from Washington of
the breaking off of diplomatic rcla-
tons with Austria-Hungary. Only
four men were found on the ship and
they were turned over to the immigra-
ton officials. The captain was not
aboard. he having notified the collec
tor last week that he would spend the
Easter holidays in Washington.
Collector Berry said that his men
found the machinery Of the Franconia !
damaged in about the same manner
as that of the two German merchant /
ships seized here last week.
Budapest Taken at Newport News.
Newport News. Va, April 10.-The !
Austrian steamer Budapest, tied up
here since shortly after the outbreak !
Of he European war, was seized about
1890 O'Clock yesterday by Federal
officials.
Engines Completely Wrecked.
Boston, April 10.-Erny, the only
Austrian steamer warbound here, was
seized yesterday by port officials.
4 machinist who examined The Erny
ted Collector Billings her engines had
been completely wrecked. The steamer
registers G.515 tons.
Three at New Orleans.
New Orleans, April 10.-Threc Aus
Lrian steamers, he Clara, Anna and
Teresa, were taken in charge by Fed
cral authorities yesterday afternoon.
Lucia's Machinery Damaged.
Pensacola, Fla, April 1O.-Customs
officials and deputy United States
marshais, with detachment of ma
zines, late yesterday seized the Aus
TRAN steamer Lucia, warbound IN this
harbor and held the captain and
crew.
The Lucia's machinery had been
badly damaged by the crew.
Marines in Charge of Bornc0.
Tampa, Fla April lO.-The Aus