The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-03-11

required by law, for after seven
months or sea rowing, during which
she sent eleven prizes to the bottom,
the German auxiliary needs repairs
which will take weeks
Later immigration authorities at
washington notified officials here all
englDie immigrants on the Eitel
Friedrich would be permitted to land.
Captain Kiehne, of the sunken
American sailing ship William P.
Frye, finished his formal deposition of
the destruction of his vessel before
Collector Hamilton today. This depo-
sltion was forwarded to Assistant
Secretary of the Treasury Peters, in
charge of customs at Washington.
Collector Hamilton left shortly be-
fore noon to board the Eitel Fried
rich. He prepared a letter to present
to Commander Thierichsen containing
the formal demands of the Washing
ton government. He also took with
him an order to permit the landing
of the $50 sacks of mail destined for
ship Floride.
Story of the Crew.
Representatives of the state depart
ment arrived here today and imme-
diately instituted an inquiry in the
sinking of the American sailing vessel
William Frye.
The captain and crew of the Frye
were brought here, and taken direct
to the customs house, where their
stories were recorded under oath. The
stories of all the men agreed. They
stated that while almost becalmed en-
route to Queenstown they were halted
by the German warship. Officers
who came aboard and examined their
manifest chara cterized the grain car
go as contraband because consigned
ION orders
They stated they were ordered to
throw the cargo overheard and were
assisted in that work by seamen from
the Eitel Frederick. But getting the
grain out of the hold was too much of
a task and fearing the arrival of a
hostile warship the commander of the
Eitel finally ordered all hands off the
ship and sent it to the bottom.
The Eitel lay at anchor here today,
with full details of her long sea raid
untold, awaiting instructions from the
German embassy at Washington as to
her next move. There seemed hardly
a doubt that she would be interned.
Chief on the program of today'S activ-
tiles by customs men in connection
with the raiders arrival here was an
attempt to learn full details of the
sinking of the American sailing ship
William P. Frye, whose officers and
crew were brought here aboard the
German cruiser.
Inquiry Is ordered.
Washington, March 1.-THE fol-
lowing statement was issued at the
White House today:
THE president, when asked regard
ing the sinking of the American ship
William p. Frye by the German auXil-
larry cruiser Prinz Eitel Friedrich, said:
A most searching inquiry will be
made and whatever action is taken
will be based upon the result of that
inquiry
Whether the action of the captain
of the Prinz Eitel has placed his gov
eminent in a dilemma by sinking the
American grain ship William p. Frye
was much discussed in official quar-
ters today. Assuming that the Frye's
cargo was not consigned to the Brit
ish government one view is that the
German government either must re-
pudlate the action of Captain ThieriSch-
sen and pay for the Frye and her car
go, or withdraw it's protest to the state
department against the British as
sumption to the right to seize food
cargoes bound from a neutral country
like the United States to, the civilian
population of Germany.
1t was believer possible GERMANY
might seek a middle course by adopt
ing the British view that goods
shipped Ito order are not entitled to
the same exemption from seizure or
individual or firm. That, however, is
directly opposed to the American
contention, strongly set out in a num-
Der of notes exchanged with the Brit
ish government early in the war in re-
lation to copper shipments and still
Though the Prinz Eitel Friedrich
is now a German national vessel and
on the same footing as a full Pledged
man of war, it is held by some state
department officials that being in
American territorial waters her COM
mander cannot legally hold single
prisoner, not member of his own
crew. Therefore, if he has detained
aboard ship four British or French
prisoners because they refused to
promise not to bear arms against Ger
many, port authorities at Newport
News may demand their release as |
soon as their attention is directed to |
the facts, probably by one of the en- |
bassies here, or by consular officers |
at Norfolk
England Will Protest.
Norfolk, March 11.-That the Brit |
ish government would protest against |
the EiteFs release by tn eUnited States |
British Vice-Consu1 Myer was receiv- |
ing code MESA geS almost hourly from |
London and Washington. He refused |
to discuss the situation but was said to |
have received from the customs au- |
by the German cruiser and to have |
it to his government.
The impression here was that the |
British would represent it would be |
an unfriendly act for America to allow |
ca11y exhausted, repair and return to |
sea to resume the destruction of Brit |
iSh vessels.
Customs authorities again boarded |
the Eitel today and conferred with the |
captain under conditions of the strict
est secrecy.