New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-07-23
Officials Raid Agamem-
non, George Washing
ton, President Grant,
America, Susquehanna
Charge Charter
Contract Broken
Vessels Taken Are Worth
S25,OO0,0O 4 More
Now at Sea Also To Be
Held as They Arrive

Five Of the largest and finest
steamships of the United States
merchant marine were seized last
night in raid by Federal authori-
ties. They were the George Wash
ington, the America, the Susque-
hanna, the President Grant and the
Agamemnon, all former German
liners. Officials of the United States
Shipping Board directed the raid.
The steamships, which had been
chartered to the United States Mail
Steamship Company, with Offices at
l20 Broadway, were taken at the
piers where they were berthed. A
deputy marshal and a representa-
tive of the Shipping Board were
placed on board each vessel.
United States Marshal Thomas D.
Mccarthy, United States Attorney
William Hayward, J. B. Small, oper-
ating vice-president of the Shipping
Board; Elmer Schlesinger, general
counsel for the Shipping Board, and
small army of deputy marshals
and representatives of the Shipping
Board comprised the raiding party.
George Washington First
Leaving Pier Z at $50, the party
| DrnNoedoI IN
the George Washington was lying at
anchor. This vessel was boarded bv
the officials, as was each of the
others, and after the commanding Of
hcer had been notified as to the rea-
son for the visit" a representative of
the Shipping Board was left in charge,
anccompan,ed by a deputy marshal.
Deputy Marshal Ferdinand StahIin
drew the assignment on the Georee
Washington
The George Washington, the finest
OF the five vessels, carried President
wilson to Europe for the peace con-
terence. She had recently been re-
conditioned at cost of 81 ,00O, 600 and
was due to sail on August 3, booked to
capacity. When asked what would be
done about the persons who had taken
passage on her, Mr.. Schlesinger said
that they would be taken care of and
that the vessel would sail if it were
possible.
Seizure of the America followed at
Per i, Hoboken. A very few minutes
were spent IN boarding and taking over
the vessel.
Steam on to Brooklyn
From Pier l the raiding tug steamed
to Pier 3, Army Base, Brooklyn. Here
the President Grant was boarded and
Shipping Board agent and a deputy
marshal left in charge.
The same formality was enacted at
Johnson's Shipyard, where the Susaue-
hanna was berthed. Again, at the foot
OF Columbia Street, Brooklyn, the
Agamemnon, the last of the ships
to be seized, was boarded. and the
ralding party, after taking over the
vessel boarded the tug Beatrice Morse,
which had carried them on the trim,
ana were landed at the Battery short
ly before midnight
Seizure of the steamships, Mr..
Schlesinger said, was definitely decided
upon at meeting Of the principal Off
Gals of the United States Shipping
board in Washington on Thursday
night. He further said that the United
States Mail Steamship Company had
oeen warned that the steamships would
De selzed unless that concern made
good the terms of the charter.
Claim Big Rental Due
Mr.. Schiesinger added that the fail
ure of the United States Mail Steam
snip Company to pay rentals, which
are SAID to aggregate up to the time
1 OF the seizure about $4,000 together
with certain other alleged laxity in
not properly carrying cut the con-
tracts under which the ships were
L. e.
ton IN taking over the vessels.
Immediately after the craft had been
seized Mr. Schlesinger said that four
other vessels also under charter to the
! United States Mail Steamship Com
pany, which are now on the high seas,
wlll be taken over bY the Shipping
Board as soon as they arrive in ports
this side of the Atlantic
ne hve steamships taken last night
are from 10000 to $4,000 tons each and
valued at approximately $25. 900. 900
DIR. Smuli and Mr.. Schlesinger, short
iy after their arrival from Washington
/ had conference with Charles Burling.
nam, OF the law firm of Birmingham.
seeoS< Maston & Fearey, counsel fer
the Shipping Board in New York citv.
with offices at 27 William Street. il
was decided at the conference to seize
the five steamers at once.
Warn Steamship Firm
Mr.. Schlesinger and other officials
OF the. Shipping Board then went 10
the offices Of the steamship company,
at l2o broadway, and there informed
Charles Mayer, chairman of the board
of directors of the company, of the
action about to be taken, and the rea-
son therefor, according to a statement
given out by Mr.. Schlesipger on board
the tug last evening.
Explaining last nights procedure,
Mr. Schlesinger said:
These vessels were taken by the
United States Mail Steamship Company
on a bare-boat contract. They violated
agreements of the charter. There are
hundreds of thousands of dollars due
the government from the United States
Mail Steamship Company. They have
paid no rental since March a. They
have been taking in freight money and
passenger receipts, and have paid the
government nothing. These boats were
! chartered by the company and they
| defaulted in the provisions Of the