Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-03-21
j. S. FLAGS
FLOAT OVER Il
DUTCH SHIPS
Vessels of the Netherlands
Now in American Ports
Taken Over.
ARMED NAVAL CREWS
PLACED o. .saJARD
Ship. viii Be op : by Navy and
Shipping Der mt : comp'"'a-
tion Will siade to Owners -
President " son Issues ProeIama-
tion Ordering Seizure and Explain
ing Reasons For Action.


seven Dutch ships in American ports.
aSgregating $4,000 tons. today wers
flying the American Nag. Another
100000 tons was put into allied service
in England as result Of the seizure
of Dutch ships.
The presidents proclamation was is
sued on Hollands refusal In face Of
German threats &c put into effect her
voluntary agreement for restoring her
merchant marine to normal activity.
Armed naval guards were aboard
the vessels in American waters today
and the ships will be operated by the
navy and the shipping department,
Dutch crews being supplemented by
American naval sailors. Compensation
will be made to owners as required by
law.
Holland Delayed Too Long.
Upon Hollands refusal In the face
of German threats. to put into effect
her voluntary agreement for restoring
her merchant marine to normal activ-
ity, the United States government last
night requistoned all Dutch ships in
American waters. At the same time
Great Britain was taking over Dutch
vessels In British ports.
! A total OF seventy-seven ships. Of
probably 100000 tons. was added to
the American merchant marine by the
requisitioning. Another 100000 tons
are put into tie allied service by Great
Britain's action Most of them will
be used in the food carrying trade be-
tween the United States and Europe.
Holland Refuses Terms.
President Wilson's proclamation
taking over the ships was issued only
after word finally came from London
that Hollands delayed reply was re-
lection of the British American de-
mand. The government had waited
more than forty eight hours beyond
the time when Holland had been re-
quested to make a decision as to
whether she would carry out the or
iginal pact Or submit to requisition-
ing.
Every effort was made to avoid
drastic action. as transfer by agree
ment was sought rather than by seiz-
ure altho the latter Is an exercise OF
sovereign rights justified in interna
tional law and practiced by all ma
tons
Navy Will Take Ships.
AS late as o'clock last night it
was disclosed that President Wilson
during tho day had been informed OF
the delay in the Dutch reply, with the
request that he indicate whether or
not the reuuisitioning should proceed.
He decided to await the formal reply.
, which. proved unacceptable. altho un-
der other conditions 1t might have
served as basis for further ncgotia-
tons.
| The presidents proclamation was
issued Immediately, authorizing the
navy to take over the vessels. which
will be equipped and operated by the
navy department and the shipping
board. the Dutch crews being supple
| mentcd by American civilian sailors
and naval rcscrvists. Compensation
! vii, be made 10 the owners as required
by law.
Germany Is 10 Blame.
In a statement outlining the nego-
tiations which preceded the reduisi-
tioning, President Wilson pointed out
that the permanent agreement with
the Dutch government had been
| been blocked by Germany despite the
little Kingdoms acute need Of food
stufrs. for which the agreement pro-
vidcd A temporary agreement then
was negotiated to tide over the emer-
gcncy, and that, too. was held up by
Prussian diplomacy.
"Altho the reason never was formal
ly expressed the president said, 1T
| was generally known that the Dutch
ship owners feared lest their ships
should be destroyed by German sub
marines. That this fear was not
wholly unjustitied has unhappily been
shown by the recent act OF the Ger
| man government in sinking the Span
J ,sh ship Sardinero outside the danger
zone when carrying cargo Of grain
| for Switzerland. and after the sub
/ marine commander had asce:!a!nea
this fact by an inspection Of the ships
papers,
Delay Of Two Months.
For two months the proposed agree
ments lay In diplomatic pigeon, holes
without action and meanwhile. the
president says: German threats have
grown more violent
The final proposal to Holland was
transmitted on March and set last
Monday as the time by which a reply
was wished.
Failing to receive favorable reply.
tho United States proceeded to requt-
s.tion the ships as dictated by milf
tary necessity.