The daily monitor. (Mount Clemens, Mich.) 1940-1942, 1941-04-01
Protective Seizures Held
Valid Under World War Law
French Ships. Ploesd Under
Survsilsnee BY fsdsrols


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owASHINGTON, April l-R
Despite Axis protests over the
protective" seizure Of German
and Italian shipping. the United
States-with an eye to criminal
prosecution-put federal agents
TO work today investigating the
sabotage found on most Of the
vessels. .
At the same time. administra-
ton officials indicated that they
we're ordering close surveil-
lance Of French and othar for
eign merchantmen In American
ports. although there were no
immediate plans to take them
over.
In the hemisphere, meanwhile,
developments showed the effect
OF this governments weekend
seizure of the 50 Axis and Danish
vessels.
Cuba, in what was interpreted
as an expression of solidarity
with the United States, took over
an italian freighter which was
anchored in Havana Harbor.
Two German motorships, laid
up in the harbor of Callao, Peru,
since the wars outbreak, put to
sea hurriedly without sailing pa
pers, apparently fearing seizure.
Mexico, responsible sources
reported, was planning to take
custody Of q dozen Axis freight
efs now tied up In her ports.
Costa RIGA took summary &C.
ton against the officers and
crews of the German and Italian
ships which were fired at San
Jose yesterday to thwart seizure.
The men were clapped into pris-
on incommunicado, charged with
arson.
Argentine, Brazil, Uruguay
and Chile followed closely the
reports Of protective" seizures
elsewhere, but did not indicate
what future courses they would
adopt. All have expressed the
need for acquiring more ship
ping. and Chile already has t.
ken over three Danish vessels.
Maritime circles estimate that
there are at least so German,
Italian, French and Danish ships
in Latin American ports. Ger
man ships account for the bulk
of the total.
For the immediate present ap-
parently. the eventual disposi'
ton of ships taken over by the
United States was being left IN
allegiance. It was learned, how
ever, that government attorneys
had been asked for opinions on
how the Italian ships, 1t least
might be declared forfeited be-
cause of the allegedly admitted
damage inflicted by their crews.
The decision OF the United
States government to open Z
criminal investigation Of this 81
botage was taken - further EVIL
dence that the administration
did not intend to relinquish pos
session Of the ships. and that the
protests Of Rome md Berlin &C.
cordingly would be dismissed.
The federal bureau Of investi.
CATION was instructed last night
to proceed under Z World War
statute which makes Il Z Grim.
inal offense to damage . domes-
tic or foreign ship wilfully b
the territorial waters Of thu
United States. Anyone convicted
il liable to . maximum prison
sentence Of two years and . &c..
600 fine.
The investigation was directed
only against German and Italian
ships. For the present, 1t least,
the seized Danish ships were moi
included.
Judging by actions and com.
ment, officials seemed to consid-
er the Danish vessels In IN some
what different category" from
those Of the two Axis partners
For example, the 07S Germanl
and Italians who formed thu
crews Of the Axis vessels were
formally charged with violatiou
of the immigration laws and
held pending deportation pro
ceedings. No such action, how.
ever, was taken against Danisl,
officers and crews. Germans and
Italians were classified - "bel-
ligerents," but the Danes were
recorded a stranded seamen.'
~ o