New Britain herald., 1915-03-13
DEFENDS ACTION OF
CAPTAIN Of E|TEL
(ContiLued from First Page.)

tailed statement was taken for rec
ord.
The next step in the case cannot be
taken until the question of the destin-
alton of the Frye's cargo is deter
mined.
Submitted to Search.
Capt. Kiehne was questioned at
length as to the procedure Of the Ger
man commander from the time the
Frye was sighted until the Americans
were landed safely in port. The Amer
lean captain submitted willingly to
search and assured the German he
had no cargo but wheat. The German
officers examined the ships papers
carefully, he said. and then the cargo
was ordered thrown overheard.
While that was being done the
Eitel went away for another prize. re-
turning to the Frye after several
hours, and took off the American
skipper and his crew The Eitel's cap
tain then sank the Frye, fearing
long delay in what he considered tn
path of hostile cruisers and subjecting
his own ship to danger.
Shipped to "Order'
Captain Kiehne said he did not
know, while enroute to Queenstown,
that the cargo of wheat had been sold,
nor did the German commander. The
cargo was shipped to ,'Order" and the
vessel was to stop at three British
ports, one of which was fortified. #
While no vessels were sunk, nor was
any chase made for enemy ships while
the Americans were aboard the Eitel.
Captain Kiehne said the German COM
mander made no effort for more than
a month to land his neutral passengers
in safe port.
W. +. Sewall of Bath, Me-, one OF
the owners of the Frye, said today
that he had no financial interest in the
sale of the cargo or knowledge Of to
whom it would be sold
Believed Germany Will Pay.
The decision of the American gov
eminent on the questions raised by
the sinking of the Frye and the in
ternment of the Prinz Eitel probably
will not be announced for several days.
1t is regarded as very certain, how
ever, that unless Germany makes vol
untary PREPARATION for the destruction
of the Frye, the American government
will protest and also claim damages.
The opinion prevails in many quar-
cases will be made by Germany and
the incident closed
The time allowed the Prinz Eitel to
repair at Newport News will be kept
secret by administration officials No
decision probably will be reached on
the question of the vessels internment
until the expiration of this time limit,
probably about three weeks. OFF,
q ha1 bn
Claims Eitel Will Intern.
Newport News, Va, March 49,
The question as to whether the Ger
man sea raider Prinz Eitei freddie h
will intern or renew her career as a
commerce destroyer, continued a topic
Of pupolar discussion here today. AL
though Captain Thierichsen declares
his intention to renew the cruise as
soon as possible, Capt. H. H. Kiehne,
of the American sailing ship VIM. P.
Frye, after bidding good bye to the
German commander, made the posi-
tive statement that the Prinz Eitel
would not leave this port until the
European war is over. He refused,
however, to give the reasons for his
assertion.
Norman Hamilton, collector of the
port here today awaited a reply from
Capt. Thierichsen to his letter call
ing on the German commander for
information as to repairs needed and
the length OF time required to make
his vessel seaworthy together with in
formation as to the character and
quantity of stores and fuel necessary
! to carry his vessel to the nearest Ger
| man port. The collectors formal
report was on it's way today to Secre-
t&ry McAdoo of the treasury depart-
| ment.
! Outward Appearance Improved.
| When the Prinz Eite1 went to the
/ shipyard for repairs her outward ap-
pearance had been greatly improved
by a coat of fresh paint, and she
looked almost fit to go to sea.
Appeal to United States,
Washington officials have been
| asked by the customs authorities here
to consider the case of two of the
crew of the Frye who remain on the
Prinz Eitel. The two men who at
first were said to have enlisted in the
German navy, have been detained by
order of Commander Thierichsen or
the ground that they were German
citizens and still subject to service
under German arms.
Further word that British cruisers
are lurking off the Virginia Capes
was brought here today.
Saw British Warship.
When Captain Harry Lord, of the
g1o-Patagonian, arrived he admit
| ted that he had seen one British war
ship. He did not deny that he haC
heard the wireless of several British
warships off the coast.
Captain Downs of the steamer Ard
more, who arrived from New Orleans
enroute to Algiers, with oil, said he