The Hawaiian gazette., 1918-03-26
|SLANDMENARE -,
CALLED T0ACIIVE
SERVICE. ONQPH|R
All Indications Point To IntentJn
Of Government To Retain Con
troll Of Dutch Steamer
SHIP BELIEVED NOW
IN NAVAL RESERVE
Fua American Crew Expected To
Take Vessel and Cargo To Coast;
Passengers Fate Uncertain


Calling into active service of Island,
navigating and engine room officers
from the naval reserve with orders TO
report for sea duty today and tomorrow
aboard the Dutch steamer Ophir indi-
Gates that this Holland vessel taken
over IN Honolulu by the naval authori-
ties last Thursday morning il to be re-
famed by the United States govern
ment
The only question about which there
Is any remaining doubt as 10 the gov
eminent = intention is Ms TO whether
the vessel is to ne used in the Pacific
or Atlantic service.
While no official statement can be
secured as to what ia to .besdone with
the Dutch steamer, ID became known
from unofficial sources Yesterday that
two well known navigatoTs who are in
the naval reserve had been ordered to
report aboard the ophir today.
From the same source comes the i'm
formation that il will perhaps he
day or two before the actual taking
over of the vessel win, be completed,
which is understoo TO mean that il will
take all of this time to get the neces-
s9ry American crew. enrolled and
aboard.
Gust Dutch Crew Today
However, the actual dispossession of
the dutch commanders of the steamer
is expected to take place today, al
though they had not been notified yes
tertlay afternoon of the intention of
the government.
When Captain Meerburgh was told
yesterday Indications were that Amer
lean officers were to be put aboard the
Ophir today or tomorrow, he replied
philosophically:
MAY be 80. They haven t told us,
though
Two of the navigating officers who
are known to have been called to active
service from the naval reserve are now
in command of Island craft
May Transfer Passengers
All the passengers who arrived here
from the Orient aboard the 0phir n
week ago last Thursday are still main
tanning their living quarters on the
steamer. Whether they will be- allowed
to continue as passengers on the yes
sells voyage to San Francisco with the
present valuable cargo aboard is DOUBT
full, although this may be done. But
with the vessel enrolled in the naval
reserve u il probable they, win be trans
ferred to another passenger ship. d
There Is much speculation along the
waterfront as to the government in
tention regarding the keeping up Of
the schedules Of the Dutch steamers in
the Java colonial trade, held to be es-
sential to the interests of both Holland
and the United States. -. Z, ~.
Some still believe that the orders re-
garling the 0phir and other Dutch
steamers in the NPRcilic are issued as
part of general order in Washington,
which apply to both the Pacific and At.
Iantic, and that eventually the Pacific
steamers will he released and allowed
to continue in the Holland colonial
trade as before.
Ultimate Action Uncertain
II Is rontended that the Pacific ships
were taken over merely IN order TO
bring the amount of Holland shipping
up to the tonnage required for the. Al
lied war purposes, and TINT Holland,
will later agree TO place otheF steamers
in the American or British control in
the Atlantic, which will permit the Pa
cific ships 10 return to Dutch control.
WhateveT the final decision, it is now
apparent that unless an order received
Saturday or. Sunday by the naval au,
thOrities is .-nountHrms nded soon the
OphiT will leave here within a few days
for San Francisco with American Of.
Rcers aud crew aboard. -
The Ophir has gross tonnage of
4I25 tons and carries sixteeRy officers
and crew of ll3 men. She has. been
on the Pacific run for thebpAst six
- W. SIS -