June 12, 1917
It is hereby ordered that through the Secretary of the Navy there be taken over to the United States the immediate possession and title of and to the German vessel Staatssekretar Solf, now lying at Tutuila, Samoa, and until further directions the Secretary of the Navy is ordered to operate and equip such vessel in the service of the Navy of the United States.
This order shall take effect from date.
WOODROW WILSON
THE WHITE HOUSE,
June 12, 1917.
Woodrow Wilson, Executive Order 2635—German Boats Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, The American Presidency Project https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/node/275471