A PRIZE OF WAR.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11578, 23 December 1915, Page 4

A PRIZE OF WAR.

RACING YACHT CONDEMNED. The President of tho Paize Court, Sir Samuel Evans, recently condemned as prize of war the German racing yacht Germania, which had arrived for racing at Cowes a few days before the war broko out. The owner of the yacht, which is valued' at £46,000, is Dr Erupp von Bolilen, of Essen, and the yacht, it will_ be remembered, used to provide tho Ivaiser with sport during the regatta week. The Court similarly coademned three other yachts—the Lasca 11., the Stella. Maris and the Paula 111. The Solicitor-General and Mr A. B. Marten appeared for the Crown, and Mr Bateson, K.C., for Baron von Billow, agent for Dr Krupp von Bohlen. Mr Bateson wged that it was against the comity of nations, public policy and the Hague Convention to seize the toys_of private individuals. The Germania came to us as a guest. She was a plaything. His Lordship replied that he was not at all sure that a German owner could bo heard to invoke t.ho Hague Convention at all. An agreement, whether it was between individuals or States, had to bo observed by both sides. Giving judgment, he said that the Germania was clearly confiscable, and ho condemned her as the property of an enemy subject, and ordered' her to bo sold.