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Friday, 24 June 2016

US Navy seizing Dutch merchant ships according to the Dutch newspaper De Tribune dated 22 March 1918

An item reported that at 19.00 o’clock the day before the American minister of navy announced the immediately seizure of the Dutch merchant ships. Some Dutch sailors were engaged on board of these ships, others who want to stay in the USA were paid by the US government and the ones who want to return to the Netherlands were transported as soon as possible.

A second item reported that the US department for shipping intended to use Dutch ships for transport of victuals ordering that all (luxury) cabins and all free space of the passenger ships were to be used for the storage of corn. The remaining space in the casks for storing tin cans was to be filled with corn or rice.