Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1915-04-01
Battlcship Alabama Is Nee
essary to Enforce L.
$. Regulations.
MAY INTERN RAIDER
Many Believe Vessel Will
Attempt to Escape
Euemy's Blockade.

NEWPORT NEWS. Va. March 80,
Enforcement OF Anoncan neutrality
IL the port of Norfolk Newport News
was the subject OF protractcd con
ference at the Norfolk navy yards
late today after the arrival i'm Hamp-
ton Roads Of the hattcshtp Alabama,
which took a commanding position in
the channel to the sea and remained
there tonight taking on ammunition
and supplies
Participating in the conference We're
Rear Admiral Beatty Commandant of
the Norfolk navy yards, Rear Admiral
Helm, commander of the reserve At
lantiC fleet who arrived on the Ala
hama, and Norman r. Hamilton col
lector If Crstums for the port Of Nor
folk NeWIurt News. while the con-
ference was in progress, Commander
Max ThieIIchons Of the German con
Vertcd cruiser Prinz Eitel Friedrich,
still i'm dock here, was Closeted with
deputy customs officials in the New
port News office.
Later at the Norfolk navy yard gov
eminent offiCi refused to make any
statement Primarily it was learned
The Alabama came to Hampton Roads
TO guard the neutrality interests Of
tie United States between a German
man-of-wtr within an American port
and a fleet of warships Of the Euro
pean allies lowering off the virginia
capes That the situation thus pre-
sented demanded the presence of an
American Varship generally was ad-
mitted.
Coal From Abroad.
Reports tf6t allied warships mad
vCntured within the three-mile limit
and that mcI chant ships had furnished
. -pr ,ir +
ed here fer several days before the
Alabama was sent to Hampton Roads.
Merchant ships are said to have taken
dCckloads Of coal after filling their
hlnkers. In the case of one steamer
Particularly which was called to the
attention OF the authorities, Collec-
tor Of Customs Hamilton tonight sad
that investigating disclosed she had
brought coal from abroad which she
delivered to a British warship and
that she did not get 1t in the United
States.
Henry Il. Holmes, agent OF the
British shipping interests here. de
clared he had absolute knowledge that
no merchant ship had taken fuel or
supplies to any Of the warships.
Commander Thierichens would not
talk about his visit TO the customs o.
ficials.
In OFFICIAL quarters the opinion Sull
prevails that the German raider Will
force the United States government to
intern her, but there are many who
have associated with officers and men
of the ship who say tnat she will put
to sea and take a chance on escaping
the blockade Of the allies when served
with notice to depart
Technlcality of Law,
Allied merchant ships continue to
depart from this port almost daily. In
this connection officials pointed out
that the successive departure of mer-
chant ships of enemy belligerents
could not indefinitely postpone de-
parture OF the Prinz Eitel after being
served with notice that time for re-
pairing i'm American waters had eX-
pired. They pointed to a clause in the
neutrality proclamation issued by
President Wilson August 6, last, which
after stating that a belligerent war
ship cannot leave a neutral port for
"a hours after departure of the mer-
chant ship OF an enemy says;
mo ship Of war or privateer Of a
bellgerent shall be detained In any
port, harbor, roadstead or waters Of
the United States more than "a hours
by reason Of the successive departures
from such port, harbor, roadstead or
waters of the United states OF more
than one vessel Of an opposing bellig-
erent"