The Hartford republican., 1915-03-12
AMERICAN VESSEL
sunk BY GERMAN
Limps Into U. S. Port After S0,-
600 Mile Voy-
age.

er fTlnH ElJci FTelurlCn at Newport
News, with the announcements she
had sent to the bottom vessel
American owned and flying the
United States flag has profoundly
stirred official Washington. In the
absence of a detailed story OF the
sinking judgment is withheld, but
there was no attempt to deny the
seriousness of the incident. and it is
conceded that on its face il bore the
appearance of an unfriendly act upon
the part of a German ship of war,
which must result in diplomatic me-
gotiations with the German govern
ment.
Information from Newport News
tonight said the Frye was sunk be-
cause she was carrying a cargo of
wheat which the commander of the
Eitel held to be contraband.
Newport News, March 10.-The
German auxiliary cruiser Prinz Eit-
ell Friedrich, after a comerce destroy
ing cruise over the Pacific and At
lantic oceans, which eliminated in
sinking an American sailing ship in
the South Atlantic January 2S last
limped into this port today and an
chored for supplies and repairs. She
brought with her rescued crews and
passengers of the American, British.
French and Russian ships, and lies
at anchor tonight in a state of me-
chanical exhaustion from the strain
of a 10000 mile voyage.
The sinking of the American ship.
William p. Frye. bound from Seattle
to Queenstown with $500 tons OF
wheat, most concerned American
port officials here.
Last night after dark the German
ship appeared off Cape Henry, but
did not enter until after daylight
when she passed quarantine and
dropped her anchor at this port. All
her officials preserved the strictest si-
lence and her captain at once dis
patched a message telling of his ar
rival and the condition of his ship
to the German embassy at Washing
ton.
No sooner had the Prinz Eitel an
chored than the United States coast
guard ship Onondafia went alongside
to take up her watch to preserve the
neutrality of the United States, until
officials at Washington decide what
shall be done with the vessel.
Scared by the red rust and salt of
her months at sea, the German aux
Hilary was painted white on one side
and black on the other. 1t was re-
ported in marine circles that the
Eitel Friedrich had been chased to
the three-mile limit by British
cruiser, but as the German captain
had sealed the lips of his officers, it
was not confirmed.
Marine circles were startled when
the long slick ship, easily distin-
guishable by the lines of North
German Lloyd liner, steamed up the
bay and into Hampton Roads. She
came into the roads and without any
attempt at deception passed quran-
tine and then came OH to this port,
where she anchored.
"The cruiser has on board more
than 500 persons, 342 of the crews
and passengers of destroyed vessels,
in addition TO her own crew of about
two hundred
II. II, Kiehne, of Baltimore, master
of the American ship, after leaving
the Eitel Friedrich with Customs Col
lector Hamilton. today, told dra-
matte story of his experience. With
him were his wife and two children.
despite my protestations that !
was the American master of an Am
erican ship. the German cruiser Eitel
Friedrich sank the William p. Frye,
OH the morning of January 2S, blow
ing a gaping hole through her vital
with a charge of dynamite" said
Capt. Kithne.
81 was almost becalmed when the
German ship appeared about two
O'Clock in the afternoon of January
81. My ship was barely moving and
Il paid no attention to the first order
from the Dutchman to lay to. How
ever. she bore down on me and
brought my craft to a standstill. Aft
er learning that ! carried a cargo o.
wheat, the German Captain told m'
that 1t was contraband and he in
tended to destroy il. ] protested
but no attention was paid to m!
statements. -
"A German officer and squad o
men were sent aboard the bark. ans
/ and my crew were set to wori
throwing the grain overheard. Th'
German sighted another vessel, als'