SEIZED SHIPS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 147, 3 April 1941, Page 5

SEIZED SHIPS

PROTEST BY THE AXIS POWERS.

REJECTION BY UNITED STATES.

FORMAL ACTION DECIDED ON (United Press Association —Copyright.) (Rec. 10.40) WASHINGTON, April 1. The Secretary of Stale (Mr Cordell Hull) announced that the United States has decided to reject formally the German and Italian protests against the seizure of ships in American harbours.

REPORTS! OF SABOTAGE

ACTION TAKEN! IN MANY PORTS

LONDON, April 2

It was learned from a reliable source to-day that 'Germany and Italy have demanded that the United States should release the Axis ships taken into protective custody during the week-end and also members of the crews. The State Department and the embassies aljkc have declined to make public the contents of tho Notes.

Germany and Italy were said to have challenged the right of the United States to take possession of the ships or take members of the crews into custody. In neither Note was there any mention of sabotage, the grounds which the- United States Government gave for taking over the ships. The Notes disputed the right of the Government’s action under either international or domestic law.

The Secretary of State (Mr Cordell Hull) indicated that the United States will reject the formal demands of Germany and Italy for the release of the seized ships, and will disregard the protests and proceed with the trials for sabotage against certain members of the crews and with deportation hearings for others. Mr R. H. Jackson (Attorney-General) has authorised the immediate prosecution of the alleged saboteurs. This step is considered to be equivalent to a reply to the Axis demands for the release of the ships and crews. He said that where sabotage was found the masters and principal officers and any guilty members of tho crows will be held responsible. • The Merchant Ship Control Act provides maximum penalties of a fine of 25,000 dollars or 20 years’ imprisonment or both. Sabotage has been found in 25 Italian ships and one German. 1 Official circles to-day expressed an increasing belief that the protective seizure of the German, Italian and Danish ships by the Government was a prelude to their requisition' for use as part of the United States" merchant fleet. '

Officials said that the shipping shortage and other recent events convinced them of the inevitability of such a,, seizure.

French vessels in United States. - French merchant A-essels in United States ports, including the. giant Normandie, are under observation) hut the United States Treasury has alloAA;cd one ship, the Idle de Quessant, Avith a cargo of food and fuel, to proceed to Martinique, provided she returns to Noav York. Another vessel has been alloAved to sail for Tampico for a cargo of oil for the United States.

The French Ambassador (M. HenryHaye) lias seen the United States Under-Secretary of State (Air Sumner Wells). The Exchange Telegraph Agency reports that the United States Government has no intention of seizing French vessels. French officials stated that there Avere 15 French ships in American ports, eight of ‘them in Ncav York, Avhcrc the 83,423-ton Normandie has been tied up since the beginning of the AA r ar.

The Treasury stated to-day that the masters of all the seized Danish vessels, plus a maximum of six Danish seamen, are being loft aboard thenships as a matter of courtesy. The numbers of sailors permitted to remain aboard, it'AA-as announdeed, varied Avith the size of the vessel. The rest of the Danish seamen are being turned oa-oi-to the immigration authorities. It Avas indicated that they would receive pro; ferential treatment as compared Avitli Italian and German seamen.

sabotage aboard 12 German and Italian ships is reported in a United Press message from Alexico City. The A-essels haA r c been taken over by the Government. Action to prevent sabotage has been taken in other South American ports Axis-controlled A'essels.

One of the vessels seized at Tampico was the German ship Orenoco (9660 tons). One report says the Orenoco Avas getting up steam to make a dash for sea and another says the creAv Avas ready to scuttle it. ,

Action in Peru. Officials at Lima detained two aeroplanes belonging to a Gorman-OAvnod Peruvian air line in Avhich German offieinls of shipping companies Avere seeking to leave the country. These companies aid the owners of the Friesland, AA'hich. Avas set on fire, and other* ships Avhich attempted to put to sea yestcrday. Peruvian Avarplanes avci-c sent out to search for two German vessels Avhich slipped out of port without warning and Avithont clearances. The vessels Avero the merchantmen Muenchen and Hannon and it is reported that they were found 100 miles off the coast. What action the Peruvian Government has planned is not knoAvn. Two Avarships and an air squadron Avere sent after them.

The German steamers Leipzig and Alonserrale, loaded Avith cot top, tried to escape from Callao, Porn, hut the cruiser Colonel Bolognas frustrated them, forcing them to return to port, after Avhiolf German members of the croAVS set fire to the ships. Ono German and three Italian

freighters were set on fire and scuttled at Puerto Cabello. The ci-oavs have been interned.

In addition to one Italian tanker, two Italian freighters wore boarded and the crews arrested. Tho ships Avero undamaged.

Anti-Axis incidents occurred at Puerto Cabello when a German owned hotel Avas partly Avreeked. The German Transocean Noavs Agency Ims been banned in Peru and the editor and one employee have been arrested.

The Navy seized the Italian freighter Ileeca at Havana, after which several small bombs exploded at the home of the Minister for State (Senor Jose Cortina) av ho said that undoubtedly this incident was connected Avitli the seizure of the ship. He was of opinion that the local Spanish falange Avas involved.