The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-03-13
demand SERVED
ON E|TEL Chief
Captain Required to State
Length Of Time Necessary
Repairs Will Take.
AMERICAS CASE STRONG
Sentiment in Berlin Said to Be Un-
favorable to Sinking of
the Frye.
AMERICAS CASE STRONG

Newport News. March 12.-Formal
demand for declaration concerning
the length of time it will take for the
Prinz Eitel Friedrich to repair was
served late today upon Capt Thieirch-
sen by Collector of Customs Hamilton.
The Prinz Eitel Friedrich's hull has
been scrsped and painted. She will
leave drydock tomorrow. naval
board OF survey examined the ship to-
day.
Capt Kichne, of the destroyed ship
William p. Frye. made 1t clear today
that the Prinz Eitel Friedrich did not
limp into Newport News at haphazard.
He said that for two weeks the big
German raider laid down a course di-
rectly for Norfolk
Capt. kiehre said that between the
time his ship was sunk and the time
the liner Willerby was sent to the
bottom. February 20. every time a
smudge OF smoke appeared on the
horizon. the call to quarters sounded.
| the gun covers were stripped off to
cries of Alarm! Alarm" and the con-
verted liner bore down upon the stranger
But after the sinking of the Willer-
by. the Frlnz Eitel avoided all craft.
| About the time that Capt. kiehne
learned that the German raider was
| laying a course for the North Ameri-
can coast. one of the German Officers
| asked him:
| DO you know where we arc going?"
Did Not Need a sextant.
Il do not need a sextant or a compass
to tell the American skipper replied.
You are heading TO North America"
Another friendly German officer re
marked:
Maybe We'll set you ashore at Balti-
more, or Savannah. or Charleston
| I've made Savannah IIarbor and
! Charleston, too, and your commander
would never choose such a port to run in
| to land U.S. replied the American.
We'll. what would you do if YOU want
cd to escape the British warships:" the
German officer asked.
! I'd keep out here in the middle Of the
ocean and run straight northward and
then strike westward Capt. kiehne re-
piled.
| Subsequent events proved that his adj
vice had been followed to the letter.
! During the last two nights OF her voy-
age, when British warShips hernmed her
in. the crew Of the German raider
sprawled awake beside their guns. Even
ammunition was ready.
The PrinZ Eitel will not leave this port
can captain. II can state that positively.
I am not at liberty to say how | know
Asks Three Weeks Time.
Commander Thieirchsen. Of the Ger
man auxiliary cruiser PrinZ Eitel
Friedrich. yesterday forwarded to
Washington a request that he be per-
mitted to keep his ship here three
weeks. He stated that necessary re-
time to render the cruiser seaworthy
and asserted that it vas his inten-
ton to leave port just as soon as ade
| quate repairs had been made.
| There is no doubt felt here that
| probably as much as three weeks,
and possibly more, will have to be
allotted TO the German cruiser. Of
| ficials are not at all concerned over
the delay in disposfng of this ques-
| ton. as time is wanted for passing
on the problem raised in connection
with the sinking of the William P.
Frye.
7 Unofficial dispatches reporting that
sentiment in Berlin appears to be
most unfavorable to the action of
| Commander Thieirchsen in sinking
| the American sailing ship caused
much satisfaction here. These dis
patches were regarded as further
support for the view that the Amer
lean case would be found to be so
strong that the German government
would not be disposed to contest it.
Defends sinking of ship.
Newport News, Va, March 12-That
the sinking of the American ship William
p. Frye by the German auxiliary cruiser
PrinZ Eitel Friedrich was justified is the
assertion made by Commander Thieirch-
sen Of the Kaser's warship, in a sworn
statement presented to Collector of the
Port Norman r. Hamilton. The state
ment was forwarded to Washington to-
day by Collector Hamilton.
The communication was in German and
its text was not made public here, but
it is understood that the German com.
mander takes the stand that he acted
| within the limits of International law,
because the Frye carried yellow maize,
which is at least conditional contraband
when consigned to the port Of a bel
ligerent nation.
\ According to Commander Thieirchsen,
the nature OF the Frye's cargo made her
legal prey for the Prinz Eltel 1t IS
said that this opinion of the naval officer
is indorsed by the German Embassy.