GERMAN STEAMERS AT MANILA

Colonist, Volume LVIII, Issue 14406, 17 May 1917, Page 7

GERMAN STEAMERS AT MANILA

Following the break of relations "between the United States and Germany, and the seizure by the American Government 'of German steamers detained in Philippine waters, suits involving tte recovery of heavy damages for money and supplies given by Behn v Meyer, and Company, to the twenty-one German steamers detained in Manila, Cebu, and Zamboanga Bays were filed recently in the court of first instance against the steamship companies owning those vessels, says a report from Manila. The suits, twenty-one in all, one for each vessel, alleged that on Ist August, 1914, on account of the declaration of war by Germany against a number of European nations, It become necessary to detain German vessels plying on high seas in neutral ports. The plaintiff claims that it has been acting as agent in the Philippines for those steamers. It asks.for the attachment of the vessels pending decision by the court, for which it has filed bonds equivalent to tlie amount sought to be recovered in each case, Judge Ostrand lias issued the writs of attachment paid for. The defendant companies" are NorddeutscHer Lloyd S.S. Company, owning eleven of the vessels in;. question, the HamburgAmerika line, owning four of them, the Deutsch-Australische DampscMffs Gessellschaft. owning three of them, M. Jebson owning two. and the Deu'tschSudsee Phosohat A. G., owning one. It is alleged that these firms have tiiencentral offices in Germany, and have no other property in the islands than the ships they own. The amount sought- to be recovered includes not only the sum of money and the cost of provisions ciyen to oaeli of those steamers for their maintenance, and support of their crews, but also the exnenses incurred by Behn. Meyer, and Company in transporting their cargoes.