China seized German merchant ships according to the Dutch newspaper De Tijd dated 15 March 1917

An item reported that the US department of navy was informed that the Chinese cabinet seized the German merchant ship at Shanghai and that the crews were disembarked and now guarded. It seemed to be that 13 ships with a total tonnage of 35.000 tons were seized.

The edition dated the 21st published an item dated Shanghai 18 March that on board of three of the German ships seized on the 14^th explosives were discovered probably to scuttle the ships.