The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1921-07-23
j. S. OFFICIALS SEIZE
FIVESHIPS FOR RENT
Vessels of United States Mail
Steamship Company Forci-
bly, Taken Over.
OWED BILL OF 100000
Board Gives Warming and
Then Sends Men Out Into
Harbor After Boats.
OWED BILL OF $500, 900

HarbOr After Boats.
The most spectacular, in some ways
and yet the quietest raid ever under
taken by Government upon ships. ir
any harbor was conducted last night
by United States Marshal Mccarthy
United States Attorney Hayward and
General Counsel Elmer Schlesinger OF
the United States Shipping Board.
Sailing on the tug Beatrice Morse
under secret orders at $50 from Pier
I. Hudson River, the raiders took pos
session forcibly but silently Of Ave OF
the largest ships flying the flag Of the
United States Mail Steamship Com
pany. The ships seized were the
George Washington. about to make
her maiden trip on August under
United States Mall Steamship aus
pices; the America. the Agamemnon
the President Grant and the susQue-
hanna. The five ships seized are val
ued conservatively Mt $4,000. 900.
United States deputy marshal was
placed In charge OF each ship and also
personal representative Of the United
States Shipping Board. The chief OPP
Grating officer or the captain, II found
was told that these men we're In alb.
soiute charge and that henceforward
the United States Mail Steamship Line
had nothing to do with these ships.
Failure to observe the terms Of the
contract entered into by the steamship
company with the shipping Board was
the sole reason for the seizure or thu
ships said Mr.. schlesinger. who acted
throughout as the legal representa- tive
of the board, though accompanied by
other lawyers. acting for the firm of
who are advisory counsel to the board.
Rental Payment Asked.
Mr.. Schlesinger. In company with J. B.
smull. technical shipping adviser tc
Chairman Albert Lasker OF the Shipping
Board. visited Charles Mayer. chairman
OF the board OF directors of the United
StdbcS ctttbirIip
Broadway. about o'clock yesterda,
evening. They told him they had come
TO demand payment of more than $780,
900 due as rental for the various ships
chartered by the company from the Ship
ping Board. Not a penny of rental, &C.
cording TO Mr.. Schlesinger. hes beer
paid b. the company since March 81
If you don't pay we are going to
seize all the ships forthwith" said Mr..
Schlesinger.
Mr.. Mayer argued that that couldn't
be done. that the company had various
claims against the board and that many
large matters were involved.
THE biggest and most important mat
ter involved is the rent" replied Mr..
Schlcsinger. Pay US or we take the
ships"
Mr.. Mayer said he couldn't pay i'm
media tciy. so Schlesinger and Smull left
100 Broadway and walked I'D to the
Federal Building. where Marshal Nc
Carthy and Col. Hayward were awaiting
them.
Send for the tug" said Mr.. Schies-
niger. and fifteen minutes later, follow
ing a brief conference with Judge
Learned Hand OF the United States Dis
trict Court. the raiders. comprising no,
only the officials and lawyers named. but
a posse OF deputy marshals from this
district and from Newark. hastily sent
for. were aboard the Beatrice Morse.
under command OF Capt AL Raynor who
didn't know where he was going. but
knew he would have to keep going TIN he
wac told to stop.
In just three hours from the time they
eft Pier the raiders had taken into
the possession Of the Shipping Board
moro than s25. 1000. 900 worth OF vessels.
md the United States Mail Stcar-h
Company was left without a chartered
'hip to sail under It's flag. But the trips
u the America and the George WASH
ngton will not be interfercd with so far
- the passengers go. Mr.. Schlcsinger
aid.
we will operate them ourselves II We
can't get an operator to run them. but
here Is no need OF anybody who has
booked passage on either OF these ships
tearing lest they cannot sail. They win
'nil on time. for the Shipping Board has
never yet failed to live up to any con-
tract and by taking over the ships for
preach OF contract by the United States
Mall Steamship Company the board vol
unfairly assumes all responsibility and
will sec 10 Il that no freight or passenger
obligation Is violated"
ships Taken to Piers.
The George Washington. lying proudly.
III new after tf.0oooo of Shipping Board
money had been spent to renovnte her.
alongside the rusted and dismentied
Jcviathan. was taken over at Pier g.
Army Transport Service. Hobokcn. From
here the raiders went to the Pana ma
line Pier. where the America was lying.
The ROTTERDAM NJ tho Holland ~ r,o-icn
Line had been warped into her berth nj
he time and tne thousands OF innml.
grants aboard had ample opportunity
o see how quietly and unostenta tiouslv
he power OF the United States Govern.
nent can work when II Ia In fun opera
ion.
On the America, which sails July so.
he Marshal and his aids met not only
he Captain but a man who called him
lelf the operating manager OF the COM
,any. He wanted to know what all the
'uss was about. ''I'li have to tell my