New-York tribune., 1918-01-19
Bunker Regulations Aimed
at Spies and Tighten
ing Embargo
Provision Licenses
IoGovern Compliance
Port of Call for Examina-
tion of Cargo May
Be Named

WASHINGTON, Jan. Is. Drastic
regulations governing The supplying Of
1ucl coal and stores to vessels at Amer
lcan ports designed, through control Of
neutral shipping. to shut off channels
through which Germany and its allies
have been receiving information from
agents IN this country, as we'll as to
prevent them from receiving goods
IRON America, were made public to-
night by the War Trade Board. They
become effective February /.
AS a condition to receiving fuel and
supplies for their vessels. owners or
chartcrers of neatral ships must sign
an agreement with the War Trade
board giving the board broad authority
over the officers and crews Of ships
their destinations, their cargoes, use
OF their wireless and their sale or
transfer. Failure to comply with any
of the conditions in the agreement in
the case Of one vessel may involve re-
fusal Of fuel and stores to all of the
vessels Of the person, firm or cor
poratlon managing. owning, charterng
or controlling the vessel in question.
Strike at Espionage
Government agents have found that
employees on neutral ships have been
mediums OF communication between
Germany and it's agents in this :oun-
try, and to break up this practice the
War Trade Board will require owners
OF such vessels to dismiss any captain,
officers or members Of the crews that
1t may request.
AS further means of preventing
communication with the enemy. the
board will require That wireless APP
paratus on neutral ships be sealed in
such manner that no message can be
sent without the knowledge Of the mas
tcrs, who will be responsible for seeing
that no messages to the enemy are sent
by wireless; that no reports are made
weather conditions, and that no wire
less messages of any kind arc sent
within two hundred miles of England
France, Portugal or Italy, except
emergency messages relating to vessels
or persons in Distress
TO prevent ships from falling into
the hands Of enemy agents, the regula-
tions require that no neutral vessel
shall be bought or sold without the
previous approval of the United States
Shipping Board, War Trade Board or
CT the Inter-Allcd Lhartering Execu-
tive. Also, no neutral vessels may he
laid up in port without the approval of
the War Trade Board or the Inter-Al-
lied Chartering Executive.
AS further prccauton that neither
communications nor goods may reach
the enemy on any ally of the enemy.
neutral ships proceeding from or to the
United States, to or from Norway.
Sweden, Denmark (including Iceland
and the Farce lslands), Holland, Spain.
or to or from any neutral port in the
Mcd!terranean Sea, must agree to call
1or examination as may be directed by
the War Trade Board
May Withhold Provisions
1t is further provided that no yes
sells shall proceed on any voyage or be
chartered on trip or time charter with
out the previous consent of the War
Trade Board or the Intor-Allcd Char
tering Executive.
Aside from the provisions governing
neutral vessels, it is stipulated that
all vessels must secure licenses for
fuel and stores and that no fuel and
stores shall be supplied to sailing yes
sells for voyage in the submarine
zone. .hat no fuel shall be given any
vessel which shall have disobeyed any
order Of the United States Navy or
OF the Shipping Board. and that no
Application for fuel and stores by~any
American vessel not rcQuisitioned bv
the Shipping Board shall be approved
except for A voyage and in a trade
approved by The War Trade Board.
and, if under charter. unless the char
terer and he terms and condition of
the charter are approved by the War
Trade Board.