The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-03-17
Amsterdam Report States 'Thst
Netherlands Agrees to Terms
of United States
WILL BE VALUABLE
ADDITION TO OUR
TRANSPORT SERVICE
Three Ships Will Be Added TO
Captured Fleet That Now
Carries Supplies to Admiral
Sims

W@shins or N5-ruh 1s.--lThen the
United ssatss takes over ali Dutch
ships in American waters Monday they
viii ~ once pass under tho Jurisdiction
pf tbs American aavy. Their crews
and rnestsrs will be landed at the
s@rics1s ports. and their positions tax
sn by men from the navy. The yes
ses are 10 be turned over TO the over
ksAs transport service. OF which Com
(nAnder Charles Belknap is tho head.
already ie operating ali OF the seized
herman ships. many army transports
and the naval transports which are
carrying supplies to Nice~Adrn raj
sims.
A report from Amste rdam that The
Neither lands had agreed to the terms
pr the United States with regard 10
God and ships was greeted with sur
prise by officials Of the war trade
'oard and state department here to-
blight Every indication go Far AT
hand said these officials. had besa
hat Holland viii not agree Ia the
erms proposed hs Iae t~ited states
nd England and that the ships viii
pc seized on Monday.
Formerly every Dutch representa-
ion here has been that the proposed
seizure was measure which Houand
Eouie never agree TO Informally Off
isls here have assumed that Holland
"anld be only too glad to have her
fhipS seized tn order that the prob
en- might he settled and ratlons start
RI on their way TO her in a manner
shich would preclude any German
assumption that Holland rad vo,pr-
artis consented To An arrsnEeu,esr
obviously "a the advantage OF Ger
aahy's enemies az well aa Hollands
,wn.
Oficisla declared today that the ac-
QUESTION of three vessels will be a
Instinct acquisition to the transport
ksTvtce. They vii; be available for
srvfce as soon as their crews can be
occurred. Details OF insurance and the
Ike have been arranged and are ready
o be put into effect.
The state department declines 10
admit receipt OF the Official prot est
which Holland Is reported In cables
rom Amsterdam to have addressed to
ne United States and Great Britain
lgsinst the seizure OF these vessels.
10 declared. however. that this &C
ion win be simply q matter of form.
nasmuoh rs Holland has not seen
1t to meet the demands of the United
states and iu allies the taking over
q these vessels becomes a matte OF
nUStAxy necessity. And the protest
N Holland 10 after all Influenced by
p0mAny. where announcement OF the
PlAns OF the entente has aroused the
most bitter feeling.
There was an undsrcurrent of
0usement in official ctrclsa here to-
~ over the report that the Germans
I'D announced that they Intended to
poeentrate their submarines against
~ ssised Dutch ships. II was re-
taued that Germany had announced |
hAS Il would do the same thing when |
was ofncially confirmed that the
~1ned German and Austrian shfps |
vUee 20 be put into the naval service I
the United States. But SO far only i
Ne OF these vessels has fallen victim
p ths submarines ana that was one
q the alowest Of those taken over.
TIE big VaterlAnd not only is maxi !
~ her regular trips. but she has ex |
see6sd speed records that were sstab- /
Mod BY her while still peaceful |
nerchAntman.
there win be danger to these
Dutch ships the same as there 10 dam
ksr to all classes Of shipping now ply I
~ the seas," said an official OF the
fAds board this afternoon. but this
Eou4Sf 10 no StC0tNT because IN @GS |
feseels had to be taken over by the
United States than Il was when they
rere flying the Dutch flag Germany
damned to destroy these vessels as
|he Is destroying all neutral shipping
10 keep them from coming into rival
b with her depleted merchant marine
fter the war. II they are sunk while
n the service OF the United States
4hsy will be paid for 10 the Insurance
fhich will be written on them by the
tovern ment."
Reports that some OF these vessels
fould try to escape to sea were
|coffed at. II was pointed out that
wen II they got outside the terrific
|ial limits OF the United States thew
fould easily be captured by the big
|llied patrol which now controls tina