German merchant ships seek refugee in Italian harbours according to the Dutch newspaper Algemeen Handelsblad dated 25 May 1915

An item reported that when the First World War broke out in Europe a large number of German merchant ships seek refugee in Italian harbours. The declaration of war on Germany by Italy would result again in uncertain fates for these ships. Most of the German shipping companies refused to supply more details. The German Levant Line respectively the firm Sloman however stated that six respectively 9 of their ships were lying in Italian harbours.