FIRST GERMAN SHIP SINCE 1914 ARRIVES.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLI, Issue XLI, 15 December 1920, Page 3

FIRST GERMAN SHIP SINCE 1914 ARRIVES.

NEW YORK, Nov. 4. The first merchant steamship flying the German rlag to come to the port of New York since July, 1914, arrived here to-day. The vessel, which marks the resumption of trade with ■Germany under the flag of that country, was the Sophie Rickmers, a steamer of 4363 tons, built in Germany during the war.. She is flying the oicl German merchant marine flag, feae is assigned to the Kerr Steamship Company, a« American agents. The ship is m ballast and will take cargo here for the return voyage. The officers and men represented virtually ail 'branches of the former German Emperor's land, sea and air forces. The rirst officer was only recently released from a military prison. The second officer claimed to have been a German "ace" during the war. He said thai he had shot down thirty-four Allied planes on ail the fronts, and proudly exhibited an Iron Cross of the first and second class.