Executive Order
Whereas, the following Joint Resolution adopted by Congress was approved by the President May 12, 1917:
“Joint Resolution Authorizing the President to take over for the United States the possession and title of any vessel within its jurisdiction, which at the time of coming therein was owned in whole or in part by any corporation, citizen, or subject of any nation with which the United States may be at war, or was under register of any nation and for other purposes.”
Resolved, by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled: That the President be, and he is hereby, authorized to take over to the United States the immediate possession and title of any vessel within the jurisdiction thereof, including the Canal Zone, and all territories and insular possessions of the United States, except the American Virgin Islands, which at the time of coming into such jurisdiction was owned in whole or in part by any corporation, citizen, or subject of any nation with which the United States may be at war when such vessel shall be taken, or was flying the flag of or was under register of any such nation or any political subdivision or municipality thereof; and, through the United States Shipping Board, or any department or agency of the Government, to operate, lease, charter, and equip such vessel in any service of the United States, or in any commerce, foreign or coastwise.
Sec. 2. That the Secretary of the Navy be, and he is hereby, authorized and directed to appoint, subject to the approval of the President, a board of survey, whose duty it shall be to ascertain the actual value of the vessel, its equipment, appurtenances and all property contained therein, at the time of its taking, and to make a written report of their findings to the Secretary of the Navy, who shall preserve such report with the records of his department. These findings shall be considered as competent evidence in all proceedings on any claim for compensation.
And whereas, the following vessels were, at the time of coming into the jurisdiction of the United States, owned in whole or in part by a corporation, citizen or subject of the Empire of Germany, a nation with which the United States is now at war, or were flying the flag of or under the register of the Empire of Germany, or of a political subdivision or municipality thereof:
Vaterland
Amerika
Kaiser Wilhelm II
President Grant
Pennsylvania
Rhaetia
Wittekind
Armenia
Adamsturm
Willehad
Serapis
Allemannia
Nassovia
Maia
Neptun
O. J. D. Ahlers
Prinz Waldemar
Loongmoon
Governeur Jaeschke
Darvel
Princess Alice
Wiegand
Bochum
Carl Diedrichsen
Coblenz
Esslingen
Lyeemoon
Pongtong
Sachsen
Suevia
Steinbeck
Elsass
Indra
Arnoldus Vinnen
Ottawa
Grunewald
Sachsenwald
Staatssekretar Solf
Aroa (Lighter)
George Washington
Kronprizessin Cecile
President Lincoln
Cincinnati
Bulgaria
Prinzess Irene
Hamburg
Neckar
Bohemia
Grosser Kurfurst
Barbarossa
Friedrich der Grosse
Rhein
Konig Wilhelm II
Köln
Prinz Oskar
Ockenfels
Arcadia
Pisa
Prinz Joachim
Harburg
Portonia
Clara Mennig
Pommern
Setos
Holsatia
Staatssekretar Kraetke
Borneo
Marudu
Tsintau
Andalusia
Camilla Rickmers
Clara Jebsen
Elmshorm
Johanne
Mark
Rajah
Sambia
Tubingen
Dalbek
Magdeburg
Matador
Kurt
Andromeda
Prinz Sigismund
Savoia
Arni (Lighter)
Argus (Lighter)
It is, therefore, ordered that through the United States Shipping Board there be taken over to the United States the possession and title of the aforementioned vessels. The United States Shipping Board is further hereby authorized to repair, equip and man the said vessels; to operate, lease or charter the same in any service of the United States, or in any commerce, foreign or coastwise; and to do and perform any and all things that may be necessary to accomplish the purposes of the Joint Resolution above set forth.
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.