The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-04-08
Expected Naval Relief FaiI- ed Him, Says Captain Thierichens in Ann0unc- ing Intention
ACTION FOLLOWS
 NOTICE THAT TIME
 LIMIT HAD EXPIRED
Commander Fails to Explain
 What Relief He Was
 Waiting For - Appears
 Much Depressed

Newport News. Sn.. April 7.--Com mander Max ThierIchens of the Ger man auxiliary cruiser Prinx Bite Friedrich asked the United states gov ernmcnt through port authorities her, tonight to intern his ship and crew foi German skipper kept up the appear. nnce of being ready for dash to tn, sen. and when the time for decisioi finally came he explained that falIur, of "expccted relief" to arrive had mad, it necessary to intern rather thnu "tc. liver crew and ship to fruitless an. certain destruction bs British nn, French warships waiting orr the Vir- ginia capes."
 Tomorrow the commerce raider will make her last cruise of the war Sh, will be taken To the Norfolk navy ward across Hampton Roads from the ship yard here where she has been laid LII since limping into port on March lj after the remarkable commerce de stroying voyage from the orient, dur ing which she sent the American shiI William r. Frye to the bottom
 Commander Thierichens notified tn Washington government through Coilecto of Customs Hamilton shortly after o'clock of his decision to intern rathe than deliver crew and ship to fruitles and certain destruction by British am French warships waiting off the Virgins eapes.
 The German captain delivered his an ncunceuent in writing when Colecto Hamilton boarded the lsltel Fredric with an imperative notice from the Wash ington government that the time for hi stay in this port would expire at mid night tonight, and that he must leav American waters by o'clock on tn morning of April s. Before the custom collector could deliver the message Com mander Thicrichens handed 10 him tn written announcement of his decision.
 Embargo Lifted
 Determination of the German command CT to intern immediately operated to If the American embargo against merchan ships of allied European nations leavin, this port More than a score of Britisl merchant vessels which had been cleared but held up, were immediately permitte, to leavs port and customs houses at New port News and Norfolk were kept opei until 10:30 o'clock tonight issuing clear ances.
 Actual internment of the Prinz Eltei it was arranged in conferences betweel Rear Admiral Beatty. commandant O the Norfolk navy yard Rear Admira Helm of the battleship Alabama and Col lector Hamilton. would be accompishe, tomorrow the sea raider to be taken [, the Norfolk navy yard at Portsmouth Va. There breech blocks of her guns vii be removed and connecting rod of her en zines detached
 Collector Hamilton received final in structions from the Washington govern ment late today When he reached tn Eitel Friedrich he found Captain Thie richens awaiting him. The German of from Washington, but handed to him , sealed envelope containing his announce ment The letter was as follows:
 "l inform you l Intend to intern
 s. M. $. PriDz Eitcl Friedrich. The
 relief | expected appears not to ar-
 rive in time so fine number and
 force of the enemy cruisers watch
 ing the entrance Os the bay makes
 tO me impossible the dash for the
 open sen with any hope of success.
 I have decided not to deliver crew
 and ship to fruitIess and certain de-
 structiOn. Being obliged for the
 courtesy shown by all United states
 authorities, I am expecting your
 orders. l have sent the same infor-
 nation to Rear Admiral Helm, U. $.
 $. Alabama. Respectfully,
 "THIERICHENS.v
 While Collector Hamilton read the an nouncement which he immediately trans mitted to Assistant Secretary of tn, Navy Peters at Washington, there was spirit of gloom pervading the command er's cabin which spread all over the ship Officers and crew appeared to be down cast. Commander Thierichens himsel declared that the action he had beer forced to take made him sick; that he was heartbroken to be compelled to resort tc such step Unofficially he stated that he had never intended to intern If il were possible to prevent it: that he hac hoped for the arrival of German forces tc do battle with the British and French warships off the American coast and thu. clear the way for his return to the oper sea
 Thinks of Men First
 'I would like to have gone to sea my. self" Commander Thierichens declared T would not hesitate to go, but I had tt think first of my mem
 The German commander was fntlch dc pressed as he delivered his message IT fact. he said that the course he was com pelled to pursue had much disturbed his peace of mind and strength of body. Bui he had bowed to the inevitable because oi the futility of coping with the superior naval force of the enemy at the Virginia capes
 As soon as Collector Hamilton had re ceivcd the decision Of Commander Thie richens he dispatched 1t to Washington and also notified Real Admiral Beatty The latter notified Rear Admiral IIefin oI board the battleship Alabama. which wa, guarding the channel to the sea. to. pre- vent departure of the Prinz Eitel Fried porf rnidx,ftx3,t