Axis Demands Release of Seized Ships

Manawatu Times, Volume 66, Issue 80, 3 April 1941, Page 7

Axis Demands Release of Seized Ships

MORE ARRESTS AND SOUTTLINGS WASHINGTON, April 1. Germany arid Italy have demanded that the United States should release the Axis ships taken into protective custody during the week-end and also the members of the crews, it was learned on reliable authority to-day. The State Department and the Axis Embassies alike decline to make public the contents of the Notes. It was learned from informed sources, hovfr sver, that both Notes demanded the release of the ships and crews. Germany and Italy were said to have challenged the right of the United States to take possession of the ships or take the members of the crews into custody. In neither Note was there any mention of sabotage, the grounds which the United States Government gave for the taking-over of thi ships. The Notes disputed the' right of the Government's action under either international or domestic law.

The American Secretary of State, Mr Hull, indicated that the United States would reject the formal demands of Germany and Italy for the release of the seized ships and would disregard the protests and proceed with the sabotage trials against certain members of the crews and deportation hearings for the others. Meanwhile, further Axis ships have been seized in Latin American ports, and there have been more scuttlings. Official circles to-day expressed the increasing belief that the protective seizure of 69 German, Italian, and Danish ships by the United States 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 had convinced them of the inevitability of ruch seizure. The French Ambassador to Washington, M. Henry-Haye, after a conference with the American Under-Secretary of State, Mr Welles, said he had been assured by the American Government that it had no intention of seizing French vessels in the United States. However, a high Treasury official revealed that the United States had placed 19 French merchantmen, including the giant liner Normandie, “under surveillance.” This is interpreted as the forerunner to seizure of these vessels, which are tied up in six United States ports.

The Treasury said to-day that the masters of all the seized Danish vessels, plus a maximum of six Danish seamen, were being left aboard their ships as a matter of courtesy. The number of sailors permitted to remain aboard, it was announced, varied with the size of the vessel. The rest of the Danish seamen are being turned over to the immigration authorities. It was indicated that they would receive preferential treatment as compared with Italian and German seamen. The German steamers Leipzig and Monserrate, loaded with cotton, tried to escape from Callao, Peru, but the cruiser Colonel Bolognes frustrated them, forcing them to return to port, whereupon the German members of the crew set fire to the ships. Earlier, the German steamers Hermonthis and Muenchen departed unexpectedly for an unknown destination, disregarding the port formalities. One German and three Italian freighters were set on fire and scuttled at Puerto Cabello. The crews were interned. In addition, one Italian tanker and two Italian freighters were boarded and the crews arrested. The ships were undamaged. Anti-Axis incidents occurred at Puerto Cabello, when a Germanowned hotel was partly wrecked. At Paita, Peru, the German steamer Friesland, which has been taking refuge since the start of the war, was set on fire and is believed to be a total loss. A message from Lima says that Peruvian officials detained two planes belonging to the Go.UUan-.qw.ned Peru*

I vian Airline, in which German officials of shipping Companies were seeking to leave the country. These companies are the owners of the Friesland, which was set on fire, and of . other ships which attempted to put to i sea yesterday. | The Cuban navy seized the Italian i freighter Redca at Havana, after which ' ; several small bombs exploded at the home of the Minister of State, Senor ' Jose Cortina. The Minister said the 5 explosions were undoubtedly connected J with the seizure of the ships. He was • of the opinion that the iocal opiuusi 1 Falange (Fa&cist Party) was involved 2 At Vera Cruz, the German passen 2 ger ship Hamelin and the Italiai [tanker Giorgio Fassio were taken inti t protective custody by Mexican marine " and sailors without resistance. Eacl vessel carried a crew of about 35. r ! The Axis ships set on fire at Sa: = Jose, Costa Rica, yesterday have be s come a total loss. The authoritie 1 removed 53 Italian and 48 Germa i prisoners from a train a few kilometre * from the capital and rushed ther s secretly to prison to avoid anti-Axi