The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-04-10
THE EITEL FRIEDRICH.
She Alone Of German Ships in Ports
Of the States Has Been informed.

OI unS SIHveS Has bccn luVTueU.
To THE EDITOR OF THE SuN-Sir: The
Prinz Etcl Friedrich has now been
interned. That means that she passes.
for the period of the war. into the
control OF the United states. Her
guns will be rendered useless. The
proper authorities will take such other
precautions as may seem wise TO them.
Her officers will be parolcd; that Is
International custom. Her men Will be
detained. precisely as the English and
Belgian troops and marines who passed
into Holland after the evacuation OF
Antwerp are now being detained. My
understanding la that whatever ex-
pense IL incurred In the care OF these
men will be borne by the German
Government.
Before the Prinz Eltel Friedrich was
informed certain obligations rested
upon the United States as neutral
Power 1t was the duty OF this Gov
eminent TO provide the German cruiser.
at the cost OF the German Govern
ment. with coal and supplies sufficient
to carry her to tho nearest German
port. and to allow her. tho facts being
duly ascertalncd to make such repairs
as were necessary to mako her sea-
worthy. II was also the duty of the
United States to prevent violation OF
its neutrality by British or French
cruiser. which Immediately gathered TO
prevent the escape OF the German
cruiser. In pursuit OF this duty tho
United States did certain things. in
each case following international law
and precedent. II maintained secrecy
as to the exact time limit allowed 10
the German vessel II prevented tho
departure OF allied merchant vessels
which wished 10 sail at time when
49, nd IL
Gated that he was ready TO put to sea
And finally It established a sufficient
force 70 insure the sanctity of It's own
territorial waters. Had the Govern
ment of Chile been able to do az much
the British Government would not now
he under the necessity OF making rep
aration for very gross violation Of
neutrality at tho time OF the destruc-
ton OF the German cruiser Dresden.
So much FOR the prinz Eltel Fried
rich. I believe that this Is the only
armed German vessel that has sought
refuge in any port OF the continental
United States. Therefore she is the
only German vessel informed In such n
port No German vessels are informed
IN New York or Boston. The Water
land and every other German liner or
merchant vessel Of whatever sort or
description now In the port of New
York Is free TO sail at any moment.
without let or hindrance from the
United States authorities with an i'm
portant condition. She must obtain the
proper clearance papers, and these will
not he issued II the pert authorities
have reason TO believe that such a
vessel carries supplies for a German
warshp TO be delivered on the high
seas. II was because such was be-
leved TO be the mission Of the Ham
burg American liner Odenwald that
clearance was refused 10 her by the
port authorities at san Juan, Porto
Rico, and when she attempted 70 sail
without clearance she was fired upon.
and rendered herself liable to for
fciture. under our laws. Had the Oden-
wald submitted 20 inspection OF her
cargo and proved her innocence. clear
ance would have been granted and she
i might have sailed freely. The case Of
an informed wnrshp IL not precisely
analogous to that OF naroled officer ::
the Government that interns such a
ship takes certain precautions. indl-
Gated above. that make a parole un-
necessary.
Is It not time for attacks upon the
President for not maintaining n
strictly neutral attitude TO cease? !
want the Allies 90 win. | consider
German ambitions. German hopes dot
r!mentll 20 the Interests OF the whole
civilized world. | want TO see the GER
man militlrist idea crushed definitely.
| aohor the spirit that made possible
the violation of Belgian neutrality.
And there are no words in tho English
tongue or any other that convey the
anger that possessed me when I read
OF the sinking OF the Falahi and the
murder Of great part OF that ships
company But think NJ Wilson is "a
very RICH; minded man. though | know
that he is human and ruakcs mistak' =
in action and IN thought We all do,
! suppose But I have sense enough 10
SEQ that the President OF the United
states cannot give public eNrres sion TO
every thought he has. That is one OF
tho priv leges he has 70. surrender 10
private citizens W A WOLFF
NEW YORK. April .