The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-04-02
PHANTOM WARSHIP
TO AID The EITEL
DreadnOught Won der Tam.
With Submarine Aboard,
Said to Be at Hand.
GUARDS FOR SEA RAIDER

NORFOLK, Va. April 1.--"They may
have more than us to fight" was the
statement made by the first officer on
the German sea raider Prinz Etel Fried
rich. according to reports In circulation
at Old Point Comfort to-day.
The officer II also quoted as saying that
the German battleship Won der Tam
with a submarine on board. is in the At
lsntic Ocean and was cndeavoring to
reach this side. The submarine. he says.
is one OF the greatest in the German
navy. When fully stocked the undersca
boat Is capable Of remaining away from
its base for forty days.
The Won der Tam, II will be recalled,
was reported as having run the gauntlet
around the British Isles in an effort to
Join Admiral Won Specs squadron be-
fore the battle at the Falkland Islands.
That the German officers on the Eitel
have been playing a game of delay for
more than a week, has been suspected
In American and British official circles.
There have been many messages be-
tween Capt Thlerichscn Of the Eitel
and the German Ambassador at Wash
ington. and it Is presumed that the for
mer was apprised of the presence of
the Won der Tam on the Atlantic Ocean.
The Reported plan.
II is planned. 30 reports say, TO have
the Eitel make dash for the sea as
soon as she Is assured that the British
and French warships of the Virginia
capes will be too busy looking out for
themselves to bother her. The presence
OF German submarine among the seven
warships off the capes would cause such
fear among them. naval men say. that
II would be comparatively easy for the
Eitel to escape.
Extra precautions to prevent any
harm being done the German sea raider
were taken to-day. Two hundred armed
men from Fort Monroe are guarding
approaches to the ship on land, while
an armed force from the battlcshp
Alabama, which il lying at anchor in
Hampton Roads is doing similar duty on
the water
The American authorities virtually
established a censorship to-day on all
photographs of the Eitel. A newspaper
WHO pc
lures of the German vessel her officers
and crew. was arrested by the American
guard. When taken before officers his
plates werc seized and were thrown into
Hampton Roads.
The British. IL is declared. will try TO
force the Eitel To sail by holding up the
departure OF allied merchant ships from
Norfolk. Baltimore and Newport News
for forty-eight hours beginning Friday
night. Meantime they are OH the alert
To notify British warships of tn" Nir-
g!nia capes IL the German vessel at
tempts to leave voluntarily.
RuMOr Of q Protest.
The German Ambassador Is said on
good authority to have protested that
the provision Of the Hague conference
regarding the departure Of merchant
Norfolk and Baltimore. Ships from
these two ports in order Z" reach tho
sea have to pass cape Henry. The
Germans contend that the Hagu. pro-
vision has reference to the departure
of ships from any one port.
If the provision Is enforced as 10 thu
departure Of ships from Baltimore aIl
Norfolk il would force the Etel TO IN
tern or run the risk of being stopped
by American guns IL she attempted to
steal out Of Hampton Roads.
The guns of Fort Monroe are
ready for any emergency. The gunne:s
are AT their posts and beside each -
several rounds of ammunition. The
Eitel was still 1T her pier late tonight