September 27, 1917
It is hereby authorized that through the Secretary of the Navy there shall be taken over to the United States the immediate possession and title to the German motor vessel Hermes, now at Honolulu, and until further directions, the Secretary of the Navy is ordered to operate and equip this vessel in the service of the Navy of the United states.
This order shall take effect from date.
WOODROW WILSON
THE WHITE HOUSE,
September 27, 1917.
Woodrow Wilson, Executive Order 2709—German Boats Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, The American Presidency Project https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/node/275553