New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-08-04
vronprinz Wilhelm, Load
ed with Coal, Quietly
Slips Out of Port.
HOPES TO ELUDE
CAPTURE AT SEA
North German Lloyd Express
Ship Reprinted a War Gray
10 Avoid Detection.

The krouprnz Wilhelm OF the North
German Lloyd Line. her bunkers and
t,lss in which cargo rs usually car
lied. filed with coal. her superstructure
t,.,ily painted gray and carrying only
-s-ber. Of her crew. slipped quietly
from her pier last night and passed out
70 sea.
Undismayed az the danger which
would bcset the steamer before she
could reach her destination, Bremen, il
England and France openly declared
var on Germany, the owners Of the
vessel consented 10 permit her 20 run
,be gauntlet. Not that they had any
sFoicc. however, for the German gov
s-rment earlier in the day sent a cable
message ordering that the Kronprinz
Wilhelm be dispatched homo az once.
Whether the ship will he used as a
transport. auNilary cruiser or collier
isshc crosses the ocean without falling
jrto the hands Of hostile men Of war
vas not known even TO the North Ger
rRn Lloyd Line officials. She was a
subsidized ship, and the German gov
eminent simply exercised its preroga-
tive IN ordering her 70 sail.
Slips Out 10 Sea.
For the last two days there had been
gossip about the Hobokcn piers of the
Inc that the Kronprinz Wilhelm was
being fitted for a mysterious trip out
o. port. In spite Of an armed patrol.
which guarded the piers and locked
yates of the yards about the North
German Lloyd property the fact that
cosl was being poured into the ship in
immense quantities leaked out. There
was also talk of a big gun, Grated ard
dashed 90 the forward deck, having been
taken on board. That, however, was de-
MED last night.
In 20 late afternoon il was not SuS-
pocted that any Of the large feet Of
German merchant vessels which for
the last three days have been scurry-
Ing into port 10 tie W until the war is
settled would attempt 70 leave. 1t was
only the express order Of the German
Emperor that placed the Kronprinz
Wilhelm. one OF the express ships of
the line, in jeopardy.
Al Hamburg. 10 was learned, there
are only ten ocean liners that might
be pressed into service as transports.
AZ least one more great ship was re
CURED. and the Kronprinz Wilhelm
was decided upon.
In the bunkers and holds Of the yes
sci. when she steamed down the North
River last night and out TO sea with
only a few lights burning, were 5000
tons Of coal Ordinarily the ship car
ries about 1000 tons, between 500 and
600 o. which are burned in a days run.
When the bunkers were loaded to ca
pacty the cargo holds Of the vessel
we're filed.
Proof that a German cruiser, thought
10 be the Dresden, is lurking not far
Of the coast in the neighborhood of
Sandy Hook was obtained from the
navy yard yesterday. On the wireless
apparatus there, II was reported TO the
Navy Department at Washington, mes
sages from a German cruiser to the
German wireless station at Sayville,
Long Island, have been picked up in
the last three days.
Cruiser May Be Convoy.
L is believed that the cruiser is
waiting 10 meet the kronprinz Wilhelm
and convoy her across the Atlantic.
j is possible that some OF the surplus
coal may be transferred 20 the cruiser.
were 10 gain knowledge of such an
act, however, IL would not reflect 70
the credit Of the owners Of the kron-
prinz Wilhelm.
According TO the local officials of the
line, the vessel which sailed last night
viii not travel over the course or
dinsrily taken by steamers plying
between this port and Bremen. In
stead Of going through the English
Channel, where the capture Of the
steamer would be assured, If England
declares war before the KronprinZ ar
riyes boz those waters, she will follow
the course taken by the Kronprinzessin
Cecilie, the gold ship" which left here
last Tuesday with 100000 IN yellow
metal aboard. Rather than risk
certain capture. Captain Grain will
take the ship around the north Of the
British Isles, into the North Sea, and
endeavor to make Bremen or pos
sibly Hamburg. The large amount Of
cosl aboard was 10 carry the ship over
the extra run. IL was explained.
Only the crew and the stewards are
supposed 10 be on board, but il was
lsid TO be likely that several additional
members Of the German naval re-
serve, officers and men from other
German ships now tied up here. used
her as means Of answering the
kaiser's call 20 arms.
Busy on Naterland.
According 10 report yesterday the
Hamburg liner Vaterland,
largest ship afoat. and first Of the
German boats TO cancel her sailing,
may follow the Kronprinz Wilhelm
within a few days. The lmperator,
sister ship TO the Vaterland, is tied
up at Hamburg, and will probably be
used a. a transport.
Persons who were able 10 pass the
armed guard on the Hamburg-Ameri-
Line pier at Hoboken by presenting
proper credentials yesterday reported
that the Naterlaud was undoubtedly
being put 100 readiness for a long
voyage Great Quantities of coal were
being poured in the bunkers. while car
pentcrs were busy inside the ship.
Instead Of bearing TO the northeast
ward, as transatlantic liners usually
90. the kronprinz headed southwark
AFTER clearing the harbor This was
reported by the steamer Seguranca.
winch came in last night from Santiago
ana passed the German vessel outside
the Ambrose Channel lghtsnip.