Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-10-21
0. ]. D. ALTERS
HUDES JAPANESE
VESSEL NNIGHT

I Steamfng well within range of the
heavy guns which bristled from
every quarter on the powerful Japa
nest battIeship Hizen, with all lights
extinguished, and manned by a
picked crew Of sailors recruited from
vessels at present in the harbor. the
big German freighter o. j. ID, Ahlers
slipped quietly away from Honolulu
several hours after midnight, Hilo
being the reported destination OF
tains considerable cargo and would
have been considered an exceedingly
valuable prize. ..-.- -
/ The Alters had been lying at an.
chorage on port Is. as".. r
Barely an hour is believed to have
elapsed between the silent departure
of the German freight carrier and
the appearance of the grim and i'm.
posing Japanese war dog, which some
years ago was regarded as the pride
of the Russian feet then stationed
at vladivostok and Port Arthur.
The anchorage Of the Japanese
man-of-war on the harbOr at Homo.
lulu is not regarded with much IA
vor by several German vessel masters
whose commands are compelled to
lie there because of insufficient berth.
ing space at the territorial wharves.
Captain Echo Displayed Bravcry.
Captain HI Eelbo, a veteran navi-
gator identified with the German
royal naval reserve. has taken many
desperate chances since he assumed
command Of the Alters, one of many
cargo carriers selected to serve as
Golfers for the feet of Teuton war
vessels at present operating in yari-
Gus parts OF the Pacific. His perform.
ance early this morning while the
waters surrounding the islands we're
yet obseured by darkness and fog, is
looked upon in the light Of about as
daring deed as any brought to the
attention Of local shipping men since
the outbreak Of hostilities between
Germany and the Allies.
The Hizen. from whose three fun
nels smoke blecAed, is reported to
have been seen at a considerable dis
lance to the southwark about mid
night The battleship then left the
islands astern, coming into the range
Of vision again before s O'Clock this
morning.
BY that time the Al1lers was wen
on It's course to Hilo, Hawaii: where
the vessel has been assigned q safe
anchorage and the opportunity OF
coming to a wharf when occasion re.
quires.
Not coaled for Long Voyage. {.
The o. J. d. Alters was brought to
the quarantine wharf last Monday,
where 100 tons OF coal were placed
in the bunkers. The vessel Is under.
stood TO have had only sufficient fuel
for short voyage.
The disappearance of the vessel
when noted from the anchorage at
daylight gave rise to all sorts of
probable as well as impossible stor-
les. 1t was reported that the vessel
had silently stolen away for San
francisco, taking several gangs of
local stevedores who had been i'm.
pressed or shanghaied as firenen and
sail0rs.
Investigation proved that Captain
EelbO signed on two German seamen
who for some weeks had been EN-.
ployed as stevedores. The remainder
of a company OF a dozen men was
drawn from the German steamers
fPommern. Prinz Waldemar, Loong.
moon and Gouyeneuf Jaeschke.
The o. J. D. Ahlers Is due at Hilo
this afternoon. Nhe vessel viii un.
doubtedly be followed by several 9th.
eF larger German freighters now de-
tanned here at the orders of the own.
crs, pending a settlement Of hostili.
ties