Washington, July 12. HE United States has seized 16 Axis ships, previously taken into custody, on grounds that the owners forfeited their rights to the vessels by permitting sabotage.
The seizure was ordered by the Treasury Department under authority of the espionage act of 1917. Fifteen Tallan and one German vessel were seized, They were among the 28 Ttalian and two German craft taken into" "protective custody" three months ago, The Department of tice approved the grounds for the seizure.
'A Department of Justice spokesman said that forfeiture proceedings would be instituted in federal court, The court also will be asked to permit the Maritime Commission to use the ships while the cases are pending, thus iving immediate use to the vessels, It the Government wins the case will acquire possession without having to pay for the vessels, The action was taken a few hours after the British Government had agreed not fo seize requisitioned Ttalian and German ships put into service by the United Slates—United Press, Rights Waived Washington, July 11.
'The British Government announced yesterday that It had waived its beligorent rights concerning Italian and JGerman ships seized in the United States, 'The', announcement, which was made by the Embass3
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.