Omaha daily bee., 1918-03-21
ALLIES TAKE ALL
DUTCH SHIPS TO
war ON GERMANS
Seventy.Seven Vessels, With
Total Tonnage of 100000
Tops, Seized in American
Waters by Government.

Washington. March 20.-Upon Hol-
lands refusal in the face of German
threats to put into effect her volun-
tary agreement for restoring her mer-
chant marine o normal activity, the
United States government tonight
fequisitioned all Dutch ships in Amer
ican waters. At he same time, Great
Britain was aking over Dutch vessels
in British ports.
A total of II ships OF probably 600,-
900 tons was added to the American
merchant marine by the requisition-
ing. Another 100000 tons are put
into the allied service by Great Brit
aims action. Mostof them will be used
in the food carrying trade between
the United States and Europe.
Holland Rejects Plan.
President Wilson's proclamation
taking over the ships was issued only
after word finally came from London
that Hollands delayed reply was a
rejection Of the British-American de-
mand. The government had waited
more than 48 hours beyond the time
when Holland had been requested to
make a decision as to whether she
would carry out the original pact or
submit to requisitioning. Every effort
was made to avoid drastic action, as
transfer by agreement was sought,
rather than by seizure, although the
latter is an exercise of sovereign
rights justified in international law
and practiced by all nations.
AS late as s o'clock tonight it was
disclosed that President Wilson, dur
ing the day had been informed Of the
delay in the Dutch reply, with the re-
quest that he indicate whether O: rot
the requisitioning should proceed He
decided to await the formal reply,
which proved unacceptable, although
under other conditions it might have
served as basis for further negotia-
tions.
Manned by Americans.
The presidents proclamation was
issued Immediately authorizing the
navy to take over the vessels, which
will be eqNpped and operated by the
Navy department and the Shipping
board, the Dutch crews being sup
plemented by American civilian sailors
and naval reservists. Compensation
will be made to the owners as required
by law.
Although the ships have been taken
over without any informal agreement,
the United States proposes to carry
out scrupulously the terms of the
pact, so that Holland si.all
receive ample foodstuffs, and WI! be
protected in its colonial trade by hav-
ing sufficient tnnage to maitnain its
commerce.
President Issues Statement.
In a statement quilting the negotia-
tons which preceded the requisition,
President Wilson pointed out that
the permanent agreement with the
Dutch government had been blocked
by Germany, despite the little king
dom's acute need of foodstuhs, for
which the agreement provided. A
agreement then was ne
gotiated to tide over the emergency
and that, too, was held up by Prus-
sian diplomacy.
Although the reason never was
formally expressed" the president
said, 1T was generally known that
the Dutch ship owners feared lest
their ships should be destroyed by
German submarines. That this fear
was not wholly unjusti6ed, has un-
happily been shown by the recent act
Of the German government in sink
ing the Spanish ship Sardinero, out
side the danger zone, when carrying
a cargo OF grain for Switzerland, and
after the submarine. commander had
ascertained this fact by an inspection
Of the ships papers"
For two months the proposed
agreements lay in displomatic pigeon
holes without action and meanwhile,
The president says: German threats
have grown more violent