Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-03-14

NSOlltnuCn PA6C OtAGy a..
condition and ready for use. All pip,
lines and cocks including the mair
sea-coek and injection lines are, .,
far as can be ascertained, In good con
dition, and have not been tamperet
with.
1--WE searched the rest Of the vessel
hut failed 70 find any explosives o.
board"
many angles are developing today
in the German ship situation"-tht
efforts of the harbor board to fine
some method of disposing of the Ger
man refugee steamers to protect both
the local harbor and wharves and the
vessels themselves.
Rurnor 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 II. Hackfeld &
Company, agents for the vessels.
may decline TO sign the proposed
100000 bond, which Is supposed vir-
tually to guarantee the good conduct
of the German ships. In this connec-
ton the question OF treaty rights
comes up.
House Gets Boards Letter
Another angle" developed Today
when the harbor board sent a letter
to the house Of Representatives de-
claring that under present t,ircum-
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-President Georg Rodiek
of II. Hackfeld & Company, Ltd, re-
ferred the reporter to the agency's
attorneys, Thompson, Milverton &
Cathcart.
I'VE received the bond form Tues
day morning. said Attorney Thomp-
son at the firms office, and we will
give Hackfeld & Company an opinion
on It this afternoon or this evening.
Treaty Rights Looked Up
To-day we are running down some
treaty rights ana as soon as that is
finished we will write our opinion and
send 1t to the company"
II is understood that the treaty
rights" referred to by the attorneys
are treaties between the United States
and Germany which might render in
valid certain vital portions of the
bond form as now drawn up to protect
the interests of the territory In case
Of war and possible blowing.up or
sinking Of the vessels by their crews.
Harbor. Board Informs House
That the German refugee ships had
best be allowed to remain ii Homo
lulu harbor, under heavy bond as
is now the case, as the most adequate
method of solving the problem re-
garding the disposition of the vessels,
Is the opinion Of the hafbor board as
in letter sent to the house
Of representatives this morning.
The letter points out three possible
ways of disposing of the ships, but
says the plan OF leaving them where
they now are seems to be the most
feasible.
Following is the letter from the har-
Dor board:
In further reply to house resolution
No. ~. the board Of harbor commits
sioners beg to state that they have
held several conferences with your
on health. police and mill
tary and have given into the hands
Of the committee all correspondence,
minutes of meetings of the board and
other papers touching on the status Of
German refugee vessels now in Homo
lulu harbor. There are three DISPOSE
tons Of these vessels theoretically
possible:
Il. Theysmay be towed to some 9TH
or harbor.
q. They may be anchored outside
The reef.
g. They may be left where they
now lie, under heavy bond to protect
The safety of the harbor.
"Of these dispositions one is impos-
sible and neither of the remaining two
Is free from objections. 1t has been
Ihe task of the board to determine the
east Objectionable and the most prac-
heal of the alternatives, keeping al
ways in mind not only the object
sought but the governing conditions of
} complicated and delicate situation
f.As long ago as July. 1915, permits
sion was sought from the secretary OF
he navy to anchor these vessels in
Pearl Harbor. Secretary Daniels re.
1lied that Pearl Harbor is a closed
bort and he regretted that he could
- -..r....,1.. ..ri4h fhn. ronnaaf AZ the