Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-03-14
SEARCH REPORTED
| OF german SHIPS
Continued from page one)

condition and ready for use. All pip,
lines and cocks including the nnair
sea-eock and, injection lines are, .,
far as can be ascertained, in good con
dition, and have not been tamperee
with.
.Se searched the rest Of the vessel
But failed to fird any explosives or
board"
aany angles are developing today
in the German ship situation
efforts of the harhor board to find
some method OF disposing Of the Ger
nan refugee steamers TO protect both
the local harbor and wllaryes and the
vessels themselves. r..
Rumor Of Washington Action :
The Star-Bulletin heard~a report
down town that Washington would
take some action regarding the NOV.
ing of the ships and that the harbor
board would soon know definitely how
far 1t can go in sending them outside
or putting armed guards aboard. II
was limited the state department has
taken the matter up again.
In the meantime there are renewals
OF the report that H. Hackfeld G.
Company, agents for the vessels,
may decline to sign the proposed
$500, 900 bond, which is supposed yir-
tuaIly TO guarantee the good conduct
OF the German ships. In this connec-
ton the question OF treaty rights
comes up.
H.A~ a. A
Another angle" developed Today.
when the harbor board sent letter
to the house Of representatives de-
claring that under present tsircum.
stances the ships had better stay at
their piers.
On being asked by the Star-Bulletin
this morning what the status OF the
bond sent to the local agency for the
German steamers Tuesday morning
now is, Vice-P President Georg Rodiek
Of H. Hackfeld & Company, Ltd. re-
ferred the reporter 10 the agency's
attorneys, Thompson. Milverton &
Cathcart.
I'VE received the bond form Tues
day morning" said Attorney Thomp-
son at the firms office, aand we will
give Hackfeld & Company an opinion
on it this Afternoon or this evening.
Treaty Rights Looked Up
Today we. are running down some
treaty rights and as soon as that is
we. viii write orr opinion and
send II to the company
II is understood that the treaty
lights" referred to by the attorneys
ire treaties between the United States
md Germany which might render insi
valid certain vital portions OF the
bond form as now drawn up to protect
he interests of the territory in case
II war and possible blowing-up or
sinking of the vessels by theirNcrewss
4arbor Board Informs House
That the German refugee ships had
,est be allowed to remain in Homo
ulu harhor. under a heavy bond az
5 now the case. as the most adequate
method Of solving the problem re-
,arding the disposition Of the vessels,
s the opinion Of the hafbor board as
in letter sent to the house
II representatives this morning.
The letter points out three possible
Ways OF dispos;ng of the ships, but
'ays the plan of leaving them where
hey now are seems to be the most
easible.
Following is the letter from the har-
,0f board,
I'm further reply to house resolution
70. ~, the board Of harbor commits
Iioners beg TO state that they have
leld several conferences with your
committee ON health, police and mill
airy and have given into the hands
4 the committee all correspondence.
minutes or meetings Of the board and
'ther papers. touching on the status Of
herman refugee vessels nov in Homo
ulu harbor. There are three DISPOSE
ions Of these vessels theoretically
,cssible:
4. They may be towed to some 9th.
r harbor.
%. They may be anchored outside
he reef.
49, They may be left where they |
ow lie, sunder heavy bond to protect
be safety Of the harbor.
s'Of these dispositions one is impos-l
ible and neither of the remaining two
J free from objections. It has been
be task of the board to determine the
sast Questionable and the most prac-
Ical OF the alternatives, keeping al
lays in mind not only the object
ought but the governing conditions of
complicated and delicate situation.
AS long ago as July, 1915, permis.
lon was sought from the secretary Of
he navy to anchor these vessels in
earl Harbor. Secretary Daniels re.
lied that Pearl Harbor is closed
ort and he regretted that he could
4 comniv with tie reouest Of the Il