Omaha daily bee., 1915-11-25
BERWlND COALED
GERMAN WARSHIPS
Captain Of Ship Tells Of Delivery of
Cargo of Fuel and Food to
Ksiser's Ships at Sea,
ORDERS FROM sUPERCARGo

NEW YORK, Nov. 2i.-How the
Hamburg-American line succeeded In
reaching German warships in the
Atlantic In August and September,
1914, with 1900 tons o. coal and
large amounts OF food stuffs by means
or the steamer Berwind, an American
boat under the American flag, was
told today on the witness stand by
the Berwind's captain, Fritz Edward
Falkenberg.
Captain Falkenberg was n government
witness in the trial of DR.. Kerl Buenz.
George Kotter. Adolph Hochmeister. and
Joseph Poppinghaus, all officials OF the
Hamburg American line on trial Of
charges OF conspiring to deceive and de-
fraud the United States.
The Berwind sailed from New York at
9.2O at night August s, ostensibly for
Euenos Aires, with Poppinghaus Rs SUI
rercargo and In charge. Taking up Cap
tain Falkenberg's story there It's move
ment were as follows;
First, PopplnRhaus ordered him to stay
within the three mile limit after leaving
Sandy Hook. to avoid British cruisers.
but later, instructed him 10 steer for
Cape Rogue. There he was told to steam
back and forth as he might meet Ger
man ships. For thirty-slx hours the Ber-
wind did steam back and forth over a
sixty mile course and finally at $50 n M,
/ August 2S sighted German fleet OF five
ships.
storm Delays Transfer.
! The ships were the Cap Trafalgar. the
Pontas, the Eleanor Woermer, the Santa
Lucia and the tiny German gunboat.
Eber. The Cap Trafalgar holsted a sig
nal, "B. M" meaning Come Nearer"
after the Berwind. on Poppinghaus' order.
had hoisted the same letters.
The weather was stormy the winds
high, and the seas heavy. so the Ber-
wind, unable to discharge its cargo,
stayed sixteen days with tho German
fleet When the elements moderated Il
discharged Its provisions forty tons OF
many kinds of foodstuffs, and much OF
Its coal to the Cap Trafalgar and the
Eleanor Woermer.
On September 10, or thereabouts, three
of the fleet sailed away. leaving only the
Pontas and the Cap Trafalgar, to which
the Berwind was still dlscharglng cargo
Before leaving, however. the Eber gave
up its guns. two four-inch rifles and six
one-pounders, to the Cap Trafalgar.
On the morning OF September IA, 1914
Captain Falkenberg testified, the Car
Trafalgar and the Pontas were Aurpriset
by the British auxiliary cruiser, Car
mania, and another boat. which came o,
4 fast, Intending 20 give battle The Ger
mans turned to flee. and the Berwind
weighing anchor. trailed slowly behind
veering out of range.
The Carmania gained fast" Captain
Falkenberg said.
The Cap Trafalgar steamed south
about mile. then turned right about
and faced the Carmania. They were
about two and a half miles apart.
Cap Trafalgar Sunk by CarmnnIn,
THE Cermanla, fired the first shot. anc
then another one before the Cap Trafal
gar replied. They both then began fir,
ing fast. The Pontas kept on Its way
leaving the Cap Trafalgar to fight alone
In half an hour both the Carmania and
the Cap Trafalgar were badly afire. ant
in two hours the Cap Trafalgar wa,
sunk"
Poppinghaus vas aboard the Eleanor
V oermer at this time. Captain Falken
berg testified. The Berwind later re
Joined the Eleanor Woermer, went I,
Rio Janeiro. got cargo and returned
home. II failed TO reach r3uenos Ayres
the port for which II cleared. Captain
Fa kenberg said.
The government charged that the Ber
W nd was the only one of the sixteei
boats chartered by the defendants at 1
cost OF 100000, to relieve Gei ran cruis
ers. which succeeded in It's errand. TIL,
others. It Is believed. were all capture,
before they reached the Germans.
Captain Falkenberg, said George Kot
ter, superintendent of the Hamburg
!, American line made him a present o
800 in return for his services when tn
Berwind got back to New YORK.