The Washington times., 1915-04-14
'WilheLn1'S Commander
Laughs at Newspapers
Wouldn't Have Had Time to Attend to Any of His Of
fcial Duties If He Had Talked So Much, Says
Youthful "Captan Lieutenant"
By A. ID. JACOBSON.

at is remarkable. indeed" said Cap
stood on the topmost deck, near his pri-
vate cabin, of the now famous German
sea raider. kronprinz Wilhelm, which
Is lying in midstream at Newport
News. "to read in your daily papers all
have made to journalists. Where
would have taken the time to attend
TO my many official duties?"
THAT is So" chimsd I'm "Corvettcn'
Captain Thierichens, of the now safely
intcrned sister raider. tho prinz Eit"l
Friedrich, who had come ovVr from
Portsmouth for "A friendly chat.
And the fun of II is" concluded the
anablc, though exceedingly young .-Hi-
most boyish looking COtnmander of the
powerful 1900 ton krOnprinz Wilhelm
TO the best of my knowledge ] have
not spoken to more than perhaps ono
or two reporters on board (and | have
not been ashore), and have never utter
ed more than short sentence or two,
not being very fluent English talN"r.
Il read with a great deal of amus"-
ment all that the first officer Of this
ship of His Majesty-hc rcvcrcntly
touched his cap with the fingers Of his
right hand Mr.. WarniCkc, Is supposed
to have said in the first few hours
after our casting anchor here. Just
think of IT. 'vicr Spalten' -four col
umns). Incidentally If he did do It,
someone in transCribng. or he himself,
, must have drawn most literally upon
their Imagination"
Very Young Indeed.
The commander of this ship. which
, has operated 50 very successfully on
, the high seas ever since last August, is
a young man, very young as to looks,
but apparently we'll chosen for posi-
ton that requires stamina of the nr't
order. u knowledge of the seven se"s d
that is actually surprising in one of his
age Che is thirty-two. but looks twenty
iivc) and courage and sclf-rcliHnrC. But
the results of his many raids have
demonstrated his fitness Hnd the good
Judgment of Admiral Won TirprtZ "a
picking him for the job.
The Captain-lieutenant is sturdy
McCklenburger, a son of one OF inc
northern states Of the German fedora
tiOn, known for the courage and stay
| ing qualities of its Inhabitants 1t II
the land OF the birth of thc German
, Crown Princess Cecilia. His father Is
n wel-known educator. who has gained
an enviable reputation as professor or
pathological anatomy Ct the university
| of his native CITY Of RostOck.
I'VE hardly look as though "" hav"
! been starving, do We" nc asked, r"1nIn-
! isccntlN. Ever since in August last.
/ when I was suddenly ordered to give
|
| the karlsruhe and asSum" command
! of this leViathan hero. which uncpC"t-
eGly doomed up before us We hay" had
! u lively time on board of the l\rOn-
prinz. lively not only in respect to what
J to do in the discharge of our duty 10
| His Majesty (anothcr salutcl. bat in Z
| social way. We tried to forget our
| rather distasteful occupation now and
| then by getting up some sort. Of enter
! ta!nments. We celebrated the birth
day anniversary of the kaiserin, Of the
! Kaiser. We had n fine Christmas. with
, lots of presents to each other. We
have n fine band on board, and. thanks
| to one Of the ships that we had to cap
turc. we are in possession OF as IN" \
| movie apparatus and nlms as YOU
! wish 10 see, and have picture shows
| thro" nights each week"
| What the v"ry obli"ing and affabl'
| captain conveniently forgot to mention
was the fact Of his Equatorial christ
ening" last December. when for tho iirs