Damage Done to Ship Before Seizure
The lower decks were found to be in a filthy and unsanitary condition, only the upper decks, open to inspection, were found clean and inviting. The ship’s furnishings in the staterooms and public assembly rooms were magnificent and showed a high degree of taste and art. The paintings of different notables, Bismarck, Lincoln, Washington, Roosevelt, etc., were later removed. In the engine room, fire room and dynamo space, much deterioration had taken place.
The vast accumulation of ship’s stores and provisions, the high class wines, the magnificent table linens and china and glass ware and about $150,000 worth of silver ware were taken off the ship and placed on the pier for further disposition. Much of the medical supplies and provisions as well as different furnishings from the staterooms were found to be missing. It is said that these were taken by the German personnel before the ship was taken over by the American authorities. The latter destroyed some of the medical stores found on board fearing that drugs and medicines might have been tampered with and poisonous drugs compounded with non-poisonous and placed in chests bearing false labels.
A marine construction company sent down divers to do necessary work scraping the bottom and to locate the propellers. Owing to the destruction or disappearance of all blue prints as to the location of the various propellers, it was a matter of some delay. These blue prints were later found in the Hamburg-American Line’s office and some of them proved inaccurate. United States Secret Service Agents raided the Hamburg-American’s office on Broadway, New York City and discovered them with other secret diplomatic correspondence showing the machinations of Germany in Mexico and South America. In the hull of the ship many articles of German handiwork and craftsmanlike skill were found, such as small toys, probably carved by the crew for sale among the visitors to the ship in order to obtain some spending money.
The crew of the Vaterland numbered 1,200 during her transatlantic voyages. But at the time of her seizure they numbered only about 300 as a large number of the crew, in order to make a livelihood, left the ship and established themselves in different positions in hotels and restaurants of nearby cities and upon other ships.
When the United States Customs Officials took charge, at 4 A. M., April 6th, they searched everybody who came aboard thereafter and detected a number of men having articles of destruction. Several attempts to smuggle small bombs and explosives into the coal chutes from the coal barges alongside were frustrated by the guards. When the Navy took over coaling the ship, a more vigilant guard was maintained. The guards had orders to keep off all unauthorized boats at a distance of 100 yards. There was much reason for this strict order. The United States Customs Officials turned over the Vaterland to the United States Shipping Board. Among the shipping board employees was a number of hardy Filipino and Hawaiian firemen, very sturdy and enthusiastic about their work. They were presumably from merchant ships in or about the harbor and they gladly offered their services in behalf of their adopted country. “Africans” was a favorite sport with them.
During the hot spell of July, 1917, several of the Filipino firemen were affected by the intense heat and were removed to the hospital for observation. All employees on the ship had their identification cards with their photograph attached. Hoboken was a hotbed of pro-Germanism and our officials could not be too careful.
Upper—Leaving New York.
Center—In Mid-ocean.
Lower—Entering New York Harbor with 27th Division.
At 10 A. M., July 25, 1917, the American flag was hoisted under the orders of the Navy Department. This interesting ceremony, which meant so much to the oppressed peoples of the world, was witnessed by only a few men. The first draft of seventy-one firemen came aboard later in the day. The main dining room was converted into a mess hall for the troops, and the beautiful swimming pool of Pompeiian decoration was turned into a baggage room. The after baggage room was turned into a brig (or ship’s prison), and a powder magazine.
The first entry in the official log of the former German ship Vaterland follows:
8 A. M. to Meridian
At 10 A. M., July 25, 1917, the U. S. S. Vaterland was placed in commission by Captain J. W. Oman, U. S. N., in accordance with letter C-467-4 from the Commandant of the Navy Yard, New York.
The watch was set. The following officers were attached to this ship:
Captain J. W. Oman, U. S. N.; Ensign A. H. Bateman, U. S. N.; Assistant Paymaster L. B. Foster, U. S. N. R. F.; Assistant Paymaster H. B. Judkins, U. S. N. R. F. Fifty-five (55) workmen were on board, work going on in the engineering department and on deck under the direction of the shipping board and customs officials. Divers cleaning bottom.
(Signed) Fred K. Harper, Lt. (j. g.) U.S.N.R.F.
During this period work was progressing steadily under the direction of the different heads of the departments and there is nothing of special interest to relate.
A carrier pigeon, w-7463, fluttered through the air and dropped dead on C deck.
One fireman was court-martialed for using profanity, thus showing the quick application of Navy discipline.