Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1918-03-27
WILSON ORDERS
DUTCH SHIPS IN
THE j. s. SEIZED
Action Taken by President De-
feats German Coercion.
HAS SYMPATHY FOR HOLLAND
Executive Declares Americas Action
Is Necessary to Overthrow Small
Nations Fear of kaiser-Al-
lies Take Similar Action.

lies Take Similar Action.
Washington, March 21.-hTe presi-
dent issued his proclamation on
Wednesday night taking over 100000
tons of Dutch shipping within the ter
ritorial waters of the United States.
At the same time similar action was
taken by the allied governments on
100000 tons of Dutch ships in their re-
spectiVe ports.
Under Nays Control.
The navy department, as announced
by Secretary Daniels, takes over the
vessels. He intimated that for the
present they will remain under the
navy's control.
This action indicates that the ships
will be Immediately put into service in
the most vital war work of the moment
getting men to France and food to
the allies.
The Netherlands flag fluttered down
at sunset Thursday from the jackstaffs
of vessels throughout the world, total
ing 100000 of sOrely needed tonnage.
On Thursday the Stars and Stripes,
the red ensign of England and the tri-
cOlors of France and Italy were hoist
ed and the ships will start their serv-
ice in democracy's cause.
Action Ends Foes Grip.
This action ends the German grip
on some of the finest ship tonnage in
the world, held idle because of Ger
or hon
little neighbOr.
Had Holland carried out the PROPOSE
lions she made to this country, which
she did not do because Germany for
babe it, these ships would not have
been used in the war zone. AS it is
there are no strings on them and Amer
lean troops and American munitions
will form most of their cargOes.
There are about 100000 tons of Dutch
shipping in American ports and about
100000 in the ports of Great Britain.
Holland Unable to Act.
In discussing the negotiations, fol-
lowing the submission of our final pro-
posal, President Wilson made this
comment:
"a reply has been received which,
while in itself unacceptable, might
under other conditions have served as
a basis for further negotiations. But
the events to which 1 have alluded
had served to demonstrate cOnclusively
that we have been attempting to negO-
tiate where the essential basis for an
agreement, namely, the meeting of free
wills, is absent.
Has Sympathy for Holland.
'FEven were an agreement concluded,
there is lacking that power of indie
pendent action which alone can assure
performance.
"I say this not in criticism of the
Dutch government. I profoundly SYM
pathize with the difficulty of her posi-
ton under the menace of a military
power which has in every way demon
strated it's disdain of neutral rights.
But since coercion does in fact exist,
no alternative is left to us but to &C
.complish, through the exercise of our
indisputabIe rights as sovereign, that
which is so reasonable that, in other
circumstances, we could be confident
of accomplishing it by agreement.
Steps are accordingly being taken to
put in our service Dutch ships lying
within our territorial jurisdiction"
Enough for Own Needs.
This action on our part and the
similar action which is being taken by
governments associated with us leaves
to Holland ample tonnage for her do
nestle and colonial needs" says the
president. 'We have informed the
Dutch government that her colonial
trade will be facilitated and that she
may at once send ships from Holland
to secure the bread cereals which her
people require. These ships will be
freely bunkered and will be immune
from detention on our part.
Ample compensation will be paid to
the Dutch owners of the ships which
will be put into our service and suit
able provision will be made to meet
the possibility of ships being lost
through enemy action.
1T is our earnest desire to safeguard
to the fullest extent the interests of
Holland and her nationals. But, ex-
ercising in this crisis our admitted
right to control all property within our
territory, we do no wrong to Holland.
The manner in which we propose TO
exercise this right and our proposals
made to Holland concurrently there
with, cannot believe. fail to evidence
10 Holland the sincerity of our friend
ship toward her"