Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-04-15
CAPTAIN NOT TO BLAME
IF HIS VESSEL |NTERNS
He Is Emphatic in His Declarations
That He Has No Such
Intentions.
NAY BE ORDERED TO DO SO
Sea-Raidcr Kronprinz Wilhelm Given
Permission TO Go Into Dry Dock
Mt Newport News, Where Survey
Will Be Made by Naval Board.
MAY BE ORDERED TO DO so

NEWPORT NEWS. VA. April If
II myself will not intern"
This was the emphatic declaration
OF Lieutenant-Captain Thiertelder to-
day, when informed by newspaper men
that 1T was generally reported that
the German converted cruiser Kron-
prinz Wilhelm would ultimately intern
at this port
The lieutenantcaptain expressed his
opinion of reports and twice reiterated
his declaration, II myself will not In
tern"
1t was recalled that similar stand
was taken by Commander Thierichens
OF the Prinz Eitel Friedrich, and that
orders TO intern his vessel had come
from his government. Commander
Thierfeldcr made no reference to the
probable action OF the German govern
inent with regard TO the disposition to
be made of the kronprinz Wilhelm.
NOTICEABLE EMPHASIS IS
PLACED ON "MYSELFn
Il myself Will not INTERN" was his
only comment, with noticeable en-
phasis on the myself" in each In
stance.
The work OF taking on board the
800 additional tons Of coal for port
purposes was begun this afternoon.
This coal will be employed in trimming
the ship. IT being necessary to bring
down tho bow and raise the stern Of
the Wilhelm in order to get her in dry
dock. The sea raider is said to be
taking In SO much water aft as to
endanger her rudder and propellers.
A nf h. nrt1 tl>v,
into dry dock was given to Com.
mander Thierfclder to-day in two let
ters from Collector of Customs Hnmil-
ton. In reply to the captains COM
munication OF April IL. in which was
asked time to repair and make the
kronprinz Wilhelm seaworthy.
The commerce destroyer will be re-
moved from her anchorage into dry
dock on Friday, It was learned to-day
Only the largest OF the dry docks at
the local shipyard can accommodates
her, and there are two schooners In
this compartment mt present. They
Will be taken out In time to permit
the entrance of the German cruiser OH
Friday.
The condition Of the ship and her
boilers Is such that It will require
three weeks TO complete the temporary
repairs for which her commander has
asked She Is In need of boiler tubes
which cannot be supplied here. and
must be manufactured elsewhere To
procure these tubes, II Is stated, will
require at least the full time Of three
weeks asked for by Captain Thier-
fielder. The boiler tubes were men,
toned in the comma nder's official COM
munication to Washington.
KNOWLEDGE OF KARLSRUHE
DISCLAIMED BY CAPTAIN
Any knowledge OF the whereabouts
or operation OF the German battle
cruiser Karlsruhe was disclalmed this
afternoon by Captain Thierfelder with
equal emphasis as he made his decla-
ration relative to interning.
"'rhe report is not official" said the
commander. I'VE have not heard from
the Karlsruhe. She was my own ship,
and II would be nice for her to come
in here. II would be like war She
has done SO many fine things in war
that such n course would be like her"
DO you believe the Karlsruhe is
afoRt." he was asked
II don't know" was the reply, "but
I hope 3d.
"But we havo never heard from the
tain. "a surgeon on my ship WAS this
morning quoted as having said we had
heard from the Karlsruhe. He told
this merely as Il story: the newspapers
like stories. Surgeons know nothing
of what we hear on board my ship by
wireless. ] myself would know IL we
had heard from the Karlsruhe We
have not heard anything from the
Karlsruhe"
AS the correspondents turned to
leave, Captain Thierfclder halted them
and said:
Your newspapers have said was n
smart fellow. but you don't mention
my men. Not !. myself. but my crew
my men and my ofiicers--every one
Of them; they are the heroes"
HE WANTS ALI. CREDIT
GIVEN TO HIS CREW
The commander made IL plain that
to them would he have the credit for
the Kronprinz Wilhelms successes
given.
Commander Thierfelder came ashore
early In the afternoon. and. accompa-
MED by Collector Hamilton, paid n
visit to n bank. Later he went to tho
customhouse and remained I'm the pri-
vate Office OF the collector for a couple
of hours, discussing the arrangements
Continued on Second Pago.)