The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1915-04-17
RAIDER WILL RETURN TO SEA.
CAPTAIN OF GERMAN CRUISER
SAYS HE WILL PASS WATCH
ING VESSELS.
NOW Desires Repairs in Order That he
May Resume War Career Oh High
Scas-Only Temporary Repairs Will
be Allowed.

News, April 13.-Lieut.
Capt. Thierfelder, commander Of the
German converted cruiser Kroprinz
Wilhelm, delivered to Collector Ham
ilton today his formal request of the
United States government for time to
remain in this port for temporary re-
pairs to his ship.
The request was made in two let
ters which We're forwarded to the
secretary of the treasury, their con.
tents not divulged. 1t is understood
the commander asked for three weeks
time as a maximum in which to make
the Wilhelm seaworthy, but that he
stated he would make every effort to
complete repairs and leave port be-
fore that time.
1t was learned that the stipulations
related only to temporary repairs be.
cause several months would be re-
dired If all needed repairs were UNI
dertaken at this time.
Capt. Thierfelder did not make a
request for coal and provisions, ex-
pecting that he would do this when
the United States government decides
how long he may remain here. 1t is
understood that his request includes,
however, a petition for permission to
go into dry dock Immediately.
Unoflcially the captain Of the Kron-
prinz Wilhelm urged that action re-
garding his ship be expedited as much
as possible and in this connection he
requested the state department
through the German embassy to have
the naval board make an examina-
ton Of the vessel at once. This may
be done tomorrow If permission is
given to take the ship into dry dock.
While opinion continues to prevail
that the Wilhelm will not leave this
port until the close Of the war. Conn
mahder Thierfelder is much more
demonstrative than was Capt. THE
rlchens Of the Prinz Eitel in his in
sistence hat the merchant raider must
return to the high seas.
I'VE must get out" he said, again
today. I'VE got in and we can get
out. h fact that warships Of the
enemy are waiting for us must not
deter US. The ships might sink us
but that has no fears for me"
DR.. Joseph Goldberg OF Washing
ton lat the request Of Surgeon Gem
eral Rupert Blue of the public health
service, made an examination on
board ship today Of the beri-beri pa
tients. Few opportunities have been
afforded the United States health au-
thorities to study this disease.
One French warship and one Brit
ish cruiser were sighted today off the
capes by pilots. The French war
ship had Jour tunnels and was be-
lieved to be the Condo. She was
lying about five miles out. The Brit
ish ship was believed to be the con-
vertod cruiser Caronia. The pilots
brought a report which they received
from merchantmen that the British
knew that the Wilhelm had steamed
north from tho equator several weeks
ago and that she was believed to be
In American waters. Because Of this,
1t was declared, shipping from Ber-
muda was held up last Friday and
Saturday. while some of the warships
which had been off the capcs were
searching south Of this latitude for
the merchant raider.
Late tonight it was reported that
while two allied warships are guard
ing the Virginia capes. four or five
Others are spreading out in the At
iantic in search of another Ger
man raider. This served to revive
interest in the German raider
Karlsruhe. Officers and members of
the Wilhelm's crew asserted today
they did not believe the Karlsruhe
had been sunk or beached. One de-
clared that the KARLSRUHE had been
heard from since she was last report
ed destroyed. He also stated that
the Karlsruhe last summer destroyed
a British naval base at Bridgetown,
Barbados islands, but details of the
exploit never We're revealed.