WOODROW WILSON. The White House, June 30, 1917. (No. 2651) Copy of Order UNITED STATES SHIPPING BOARD Washington, D. C, July 11, 1917. Mr. Anthony V. Lynch, New York, N. Y. _Sir_: The President has issued an Executive Order authorizing the United States Shipping Board, on behalf of the United States, to take possession and title to the _Vaterland_, now lying or shortly to arrive at Hoboken, New Jersey, and you are hereby authorized and appointed by the United States Shipping Board as its agent to take possession of said vessel as contemplated in said Executive Order. Proceed aboard of said vessel at once and take possession of her in the name of the United States Shipping Board for and on behalf of the United States of America, affixing this Order on some conspicuous part of the ship, and leaving a true copy in its place when the original is removed. You are instructed thereupon to make Return, under oath, upon this Original Order of your action in the premises. Very truly yours, UNITED STATES SHIPPING BOARD, (Signed) JOHN A. DONALD, _Commissioner_. _To the United States Shipping Board_: I hereby certify that I have complied with the instruction contained in the foregoing Order. (Signed) ANTHONY V. LYNCH. July 14th, 1917. Part I The United States Takes Over the German Merchant Ship, “Vaterland” REPAIRING THE “VATERLAND” ORGANIZATION AND TRIAL TRIP O. J. H. When the _Vaterland_ of the Hamburg-American Line was taken over by the United States Navy it was found to be in urgent need of repairs throughout and the work of fitting the ship out for service as a Navy Transport was accomplished by civilian labor and the ship’s force. The force at that time consisted of men of the Regular Navy and the United States Naval Reserve Force. These men worked long and faithfully to accomplish a task which the Germans claimed could not be done.