Evening star., 1941-04-01

aboard axis ships in their har-
bOrS.
The German and Italian En-
bassies were said to have handed
notes of protest to the State De.
partment challenging the right OF
the United States Government 10
take protective custody" of the
ships and crews under either inter-
national or domestic law.
In neither note was there any
mention of sabotage-the grounds
which the Government gave for TAX
ing over the ships-it was UNDER
stood.
Secretary of State Hull indicated
that the protests were receiving
scant consideration and would have
no effect on the Governments
policy.
Americas Follow U. S. Lead.
simultaneously. informed ship
ping circles in New York, the As
sociated Press reported, said Ger
many and Italy had ordered the
scuttling of approximately go AXIS
ships lying in South American ana
West Indies ports to avoid seizure.
South American nations increas-
ingly followed the lead Of the United
States in the foreign ship situation
with these results:
At the port of Callao, Peruvian
cruiser thwarted an attempt by TWO
German vessels to put to sea. where
upon their crews set them aflre ana
tried to scuttle them in the harbor.
Naxi Planes Seized.
Peruvian troops occupied the
workshop and hangar Of the German
airline, Lufthansa, at Llmatamoo
Airport. This. according to one
high source, was to prevent the
take-o1 of a plane, one Of two
Junkers airliners there, which was
to have left on a regular run TO-DAY.
Shipping circles reported that the
Nal merchantmen Friesland, 6,3lO
tons, had been scuttled by her crew
in refuge in the port OF Paita.
Peruvian planes scouting the Pa
cific for the German merchantmen
Muenchen and Hermonth, which
succeeded in fleeing Callao last
night, were said to have spotted
them 110 miles offshore.
At Guayquil. Ecuador, the 1,l2o-
ton German steamship Cerigo, an
chored in the middle of the Guayas
River. burst into flames. Watchers
ashore believed the crew may nave
abandoned it after setting it aflre.
Mexico Takes Over Ships.
At Vera Cruz, Mexico, the Alta
ton German passenger ship Hamem
and the Italian tanker Giorgio Fas-
sio. 6,735 tons, were taken into pro
tective custody" today by about 90
Mexican marines and sailors.
Mexico City reported that 10
other axis vessels at Tampico would
be handled likewise. -..-.> -
A Navy source called the move a
legal precautionary effort to avoid
the possibility Of the ships becoming
navigation peril as the result OF
sabotage. ..-...-.--
+ In Venezuela fires broke out
simultaneously on three italian ships
and one German vessel refuged in
Puerto Cabello early this morning.
Hours later the ships were still
burning fiercely, out of control.
No Official Declarations.
In Berlin a German government
spokesman charged that the law
has been solemny suspended" in the
United States ship. action. However,
he said he was not yet authorized TO
make a strictly official declaration,
While the fate of Frances $685.
600, 900 liner Normandie, tied up IN
New York Harbor, and other French
vessels still remained officially un-
clarified, French Ambassador Gas
ton Henry -Haye declared in WASH
ineton it was his understanding
that the United States would take
no action against French craft.
He said he was given to under
stand that French and other foreign
ships in American harbors might,
however, be subjected to surveillance
However, Secretary of State Hull
said at his press conference the
question of whether French ships
would be taken over had not come
I'D for decision so far.
Speaker Rayburn, returning to tbs
(see SHIPS, Page 2-x0