The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1918-03-22
'TNODUTCH SHIPS
IN HARBOR seized
ophir and 0ranie Requisitioned
BY United States and Naval
Guards Placed On Board I

\ Seized for utilization, but not for
eonfscation, as an ofieial puts II, the
Dutch steamers oranje and Ophir, now
In Honolulu hhrbor, were taken pos
session Of by the naval authorities yesi
terday morning, as was predicted by
The Advertiser following the recent
OF wireless messages outlining the gov.
erHment's intention to take over the
shipping Of Holland in the territorial
possession Of the United States. r
nfsThe steamer ophir, which has been in
port since a week ago last Thursday,
during which she has been held here
BY the refusal to, grant a coaling IL
cense, was the first 70 be taken posses
sion Of BY the United States govern.
me9t In Honolulu. r. b
Formal requisition of the vessel,
whether Temporary or permanent, to all
Appearances consisted of the establish
ing Of naval guards on the vessel to act
IN conjunction with the custom in
Ispeetots who have been detailed on
the ship for the past seven days. ri
Dutch Consul Present. - =
The Holland government was repre-
scented 6t the taking over of the Ophir
by II. NJ, Won Holt, the Dutch consul
In Honolulu, and both the American
navy and customs department by Lieu;
tenant Crosby of Honolulu, and Lieut..
tCommnnder Scott of Pearl Harbor, and
collector Malcolm Franklin and Gus
tom Inspector Gilbert McNicon, Pres
rent - Representatives of the shipown4
.ers Of the Ophir were James W. Rob
Iertson, of G. Brewer h Company, agents
.of the Dutch line, and Captain Nicer.
burg, master of the vessel -,
Following the requisition of the
Ophir she was boarded by sailors and
petty officers from the Pearl Harbor
,Barfacks, and gangway, engine and
deck guards established, shortly after
ten b ,elDck. b" d. ~
Three hours later virtually the same
action was taken in requisitioning the
steamer Oranje when she arrived from
San Francisco and was locked at the
naval Clip, although this vessel had
been allowed to sail from San Fran
cisco after the Holland government
had been notified. of the 100 900, 900
tons OF shipping which she must sup
ply for the war purposes of the Allies.
Z Officers Of the 0ranje showed no
surprise when they were informed of
the taking over of the Ophir, as they
had evidently left San Francisco fully
gexpeeting the United States to take
the action which came to p focus in
the Ahip seizures yesterday.
|O6ieef1 Mystifed
& However, they were not only sur
|pfised but. mystifed when they learned
that the same action was to be taken
with the Oranje,g for after this ship
had been held in San Francisco for
ltse days following her set sailing date,
March 8, she had been given special
permission to sail by Washington au-
EthpFity Autographed TO the collector in
San Francisco. \
4 !, There was no trace of resentment
shown by either the ships officers or
passengers, when it became known
that they were to have an additional
delay here, although there was appar
emily b feeling of hurt disappointment
for, all had been go certain they were
Travelling under special permission -
or. 30 TO .speak, an American govern
ment safe conduct permit.
\ AS ON the Ophir, q navy guard was
established on the Oranje, at the engine
room doors, the gangway, and on the
decks. This was also supported by the
usual army, guard at the entrance to
the naval piers, where no one was al
lowed 10 approach who had not the nee
essary permit Nv 3, ..
'aAfter the usual examination the pas
sengers and members of the crew were
allowed, to leave the ship, and upon pre-
sentation Of passports the Passengers
and crew Of the other Holland ship, the
0phirs were allowed to exchange visits
with their countrymen on the Oranje.
This was q courtesy extended the Hol-
laAdets which overstepped somew bat
the present Waterfront regulations, but
was considered o just infraction per
Pitted by those In authority and in
charge of the naval pier. .
otanis May san
Due to- the Permitting Of the clear
ahee Of the Qranje in San Francisco
and the license granted her for coal, it
is anticipated that special orders grant
ing her release and permission to con
tinue on to the Orient will be recei> ed
here soon, perhaps today.
II 10 believed that she is one of two
Holland, ships which were granted sail
ing permission after the ship ultimatum
was. given to Holland over a week ago,
as previously reported by the Asso,
ciated Press. ~,
/. From information gained from Capt.
w, A! Boyer, master Of the vessel, it
appears the Dutch consul in San Fran
cisco appealed to the Holland ambas-
sader in Washington to secure the re-
lease Iof the ORANGE on the representa-,
tion, that many Of the 200 passengers
booked to depart on the vessel for Ba-
tavia were Holland government officials
who were being transferred to the
Dutch island possessions.
Five days later, after all the passen-
gers had been turned back from the
vessel to their hotels in San Francisco,
and some had taken steps to secure per
manent apartments, in anticipation of
long delay, the autographed permits
I