The New York Times Current History, A Monthly Magazine: The European War, March 1915Various
History
The New York Times Current History, A Monthly Magazine: The European War, March 1915
Various
World War, 1914-1918
_(17) Treatment and final internment of German S.S. Geier and the
collier Locksun at Honolulu._
The Geier entered Honolulu on Oct. 15 in an unseaworthy condition. The
commanding officer reported the necessity of extensive repairs which
would require an indefinite period for completion. The vessel was
allowed the generous period of three weeks, to Nov. 7, to make repairs
and leave the port, or, failing to do so, to be interned. A longer
period would have been contrary to international practice, which does
not permit a vessel to remain for a long time in a neutral port for
the purpose of repairing a generally run-down condition due to long
sea service. Soon after the German cruiser arrived at Honolulu a
Japanese cruiser appeared off the port, and the commander of the Geier
chose to intern the vessel rather than to depart from the harbor.
Shortly after the Geier entered the Port of Honolulu the steamer
Locksun arrived. It was found that this vessel had delivered coal to
the Geier en route and had accompanied her toward Hawaii. As she had
thus constituted herself a tender or collier to the Geier, she was
accorded the same treatment and interned on Nov. 7.
_(18) Unfairness to Germany in rules relative to coaling of warships
in Panama Canal Zone._
By proclamation of Nov. 13, 1914, certain special restrictions were
placed on the coaling of warships or their tenders or colliers in the
Canal Zone. These regulations were framed through the collaboration of
the State, Navy, and War Departments and without the slightest
reference to favoritism to the belligerents. Before these regulations
were proclaimed war vessels could procure coal of the Panama Railway
in the Zone ports, but no belligerent vessels are known to have done
so.
Under the proclamation fuel may be taken on by belligerent warships
only with the consent of the canal authorities and in such amounts as
will enable them to reach the nearest accessible neutral port; and the
amount so taken on shall be deducted from the amount procurable in
United States ports within three months thereafter. Now it is charged
that the United States has shown partiality, because Great Britain and
not Germany happens to have colonies in the near vicinity where
British ships may coal, while Germany has no such coaling facilities.
Thus it is intimated the United States should balance the inequalities
of geographical position by refusal to allow any warships of
belligerents to coal in the Canal Zone until the war is over. As no
German warship has sought to obtain coal in the Canal Zone the charge
of discrimination rests upon a possibility which during several
months of warfare has failed to materialize.
_(19) Failure to protest against the modifications of the Declaration
of London by the British Government._
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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