The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-08-04
MYSTERY SHROUDS DEPARTURE OF B|G
 GERMAN LIN [ R
Giant Steamer Painted Gray Slips Out of New York Port-May Be for
 War Purposes

POrt-May Be for War Purposes New York, August 3.-Slipping quietly painted gray, with 5000 tons of coal and no passengers on board, the German liner Kronprinz Wilhelm may be carrying fuel to a German cruiser not far outside Sandy Hook. It is known that the wireless sta ton at Sayville, Long Island, has been working with German warship prob ably not many miles off shore, and said to be the cruiser Karlsruhe
 As required by maritime regulations the Kronprinz Wilhelm took out clearance papers, ostensibly for Bremen, and it was intimated in quarters supposed to be well informed that she would endeavor to make that port by passing around the northerly end of Scotland. What she might really do after passing out of the harbor, however, was a question for her commander to determine after he had read his orders, which, according to in timation at the steamship pier, were to be opened after she had passed Sandy Hook
 Mystery Surrounds Departure L Mystery shrouded the liners prepara- tons for departure and her actual sail ing On her forward deck she carried a box large enough to contain a naval gun of considerable power. The vessel was constructed for possible use as German naval reserve unit in case of need and her build is stanch enough to stand the strain of firing a gun such as the case might have contained. North Ger man Lloyd officials, however. denied that the Kronprinz Wilhelm had been secretly fitted out for use for fighting purposes. The box on the deck was declared to contain an extra crankshaft. The ship was so fully loaded that coal showed above hatches
 When the North German Lloyd line let it be known late today that she was to leave port, it was said she would not sail before midnight or later. Four hours before this time, however, the Kronprinz left the pier and steamed down the harbor. Not only had her superstructure been painted gray, but it was reported that after the vessel had crossed the Ameri- | can three-mile neutrality zone, her body above water would be given the same color. Her crew numbers $50 men. l Another war move in connection with shipping in this port was taken today l when the French government requisi- l toned the steamer Rochambeau. which l arrived here tonight. by ordering this I French line vessel turned over to the
 French consul. The Roehambeau will be- come a French transport, it is believed.
 No Cable Messages l Officials of the North German Lloyd line said they had received no cable mes sages as reported that the kronprinzes-
 sin Cecile, carrying $13,0Go,ooo in gold had reached German port.
 | The movement of ocean plying yes
 sells is becoming smaller each day. The 1 White Star. line sold tickets but would
 not promise to send it's ships out. Tn, | French line acceptedy reservations, but not money. La Lorraine, of this line, was
 expected tonight to sail "Wednesday anC
 the St Paul of the American line 1 crowded almost to the rails on Friday
 The American and White Star lines an nounced that their vessels would moi l touch at Cherbourg.
 1 The Fabre line sending ships to Medit-
 erranean ports today cancelled all its
 sailings. Tomorrow sailing of the Lusi- tana under American government con | tract to carry Hldlls. WdS tdilceieu lp
 day. This will be the first delay o
 mails to Europe. If La Lorraine sails
 Wednesday. she will carry the Lustania's mails.
 1 Several transatlantic vessels reached
 port today They included the Rocham
 beau; the Anchor liner Columbia iron 1 Glasgow. the Scandnavian-Americ linei
 Frederick VII from Copenhagen; the Flu ropa. Italian line. from Naples.
 l The German cruiser Karlsruhe. reported | to be in the neighborhood of this port
 is of 49O0 tons displacement and of 260 horse power.
 Only the running lights of the ISron prinz Wilhelm were up as she passed ou
 of the harbor. Aside from these tn, ship was in darkness. Instead of bear ing to the northeastward as transatlanti, liners usually do, the Kronprinz headed l southward. This was reported by tn, | steamer Seguranca, which came in to-
 night from Santiago and passed the Ger
 man vessel outside the Ambrose chan nel lghtship.
 advices concerning the serious war pre-