The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat., 1917-04-06
GERMAN SHIPS
SEIZED BY U. S.
Continued from page ~

placed them under arrest. They were
taken to the United States customs
house and then allowed to go back
on the liner.
The ship Is under heavy guard.
At Hoboken, N. j., where the huge
Vaterland and several other ships
are lying on the New York side OF
the Hudson river and South Brooklyn
piers, marines appeared Immediately
after the house had passed the war
resolution. They began the removal
of sailors preliminary to taking actuat
charge of the vessels. Officials re-
fused to discuss what was being done.
but it was believed the men were to
be taken to Ellis island.
A company Of New Jersey infantry
went on guard at the Hoboken piers.
At Boston early today five German
vessels were taken over by COM
pany of marines aboard the guard
cutter Gresham.
Extraordinary precautions are be-
ing taken all over the country 10
avoid possible trouble from !crews
OF ships which have been held since
the beginning of the European war.
Warships have been guarding the
vessels since it became certain a
declaration OF war would be forth
coming. Two destroyers have been
constantly on duty in the Hudson
river here, where many OF the ships
are lying. They moved in closer
early today and were accompanied
by five naval cutters.
Three at Baltimore.
BALTIMORE Md, April 6.-Three
German steamships, the liners Rheim,
Neckar and Bulgaria, interned at this
port, we're seized early today by
United States Marshal w w. Sock
ham, supported by 100 deputies and
two companies of the Fourth Mary
land infantry. Upon boarding the
ships. the marshal found that the
machinery had been entirely disabled.
The crews were turned over to the
United States marine forces.
The officers gave their paroles and
were permitted to go to hotel.
Four in Golden Gate.
SAN FRANCISCO, April 6.-Four
German ships interned in San Fran.
cisco Bay will be seized by the gov
ernment before noon. in accordance
with instructions received from
Washington by Collector of Port J.
%. Davis, shortly after midnight
Davis came to San Francisco from
his Berkeley home early today and
Immediately issued orders for the
seizures.
No difficulty is anticipated in put
ting orders in effect, as all vessels
have been under federal guard for
several weeks. The crews will prob
ably be interned on Angel island.
The interned vessels are the steam
er Scraps, the bark Ottawa and the
power schooners Neptune and Atlas.
Their aggregate tonnage is 5,S91
tons. All the boats are held off
Sausalito. simultaneously, it is un-
derstood, Commissioner of Immigra-
ton White received instructions re-
garding future activities of his de-
partmeht, but he declined to discuss
them.
800 Germans on Board.
BOSTON, April 6.-Collector Of the
Port Billings received an order short
ly before 4 o'clock this morning to
seize ell German interned vessels
in this harbor A detachment Of
marines was Immediately put on
board the coast guard Gresham and
sent to take possession.
1t Is estimated the five vessels
here are worth $12,00O,000. On board
are about 300 Germans.
Two Merchant Ships.
WILMINGTON, No. Caro-, April 6.
Two German merchant ships, the
Kiel and Nicaria, in port here, were
seized by federal authorities early
today. The two captains and crews
totalling. twenty men were trans
ferred to the United States marine
hospital under guard.
Treaties Not Violated.
WASHINGTON, April 6.-Seizure
of German ships and internment OF
their crews does not come under the
old Prussian treaties between the
United States and Germany, the
state department held today. On. the
contrary, the governm ent view is
that in interning the crews. the
United States is interning men en-
gagged in German government ser
vice-not German merchants, such
az the treaties hold shall be exempt
AS for the ships themselves, as
German government property, they
are not exempt under the treaties,
the department held.
That the government will pay for
their use after the war, is likely
HSy dIe Delu25 vi IeQul-
sitioned for the period of the war
If Germany torpedoes any of them
enroute abroad in American service
that will be her own lookout as she
will have no claim for payment
The treaties are still in force,
though recently the state department
suggested they might be abrogated
It is taken for granted today that
~; will hnoir Of