New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-03-11
Auxiliary Cruiser Prinz
Eitel SteamS Into Hamp-
ton Roads.
ASKS PERMISSION
TO MAKE REPAIRS
Brings $50 Prisoners and sur
vivors from Eight Ships Sunk
In Two Oceans.
fRr Telegraph 70 The Trlbun.

and weatherworn by seven months OF
cruising on the Atlantic and Pacihc'
proving on the shipping of England
and France, repeatedly chased by Britt
ish and japanese warships and forced
10 cover thousands of extra miles to
evade capture, the German auxiliary
cruiser Prinz Eitel Friedrich slipped
into Hampton Roads just after day
break this morning and asked that she
be allowed to dock at the Newport
News Shipyard for alleged necessary
repairs to her machinery.
In addition TO a complement of about
$50 men, the Prinz Eitel has on board
about $50 prisoners of war and sur
vivors of destroyed vessels.
From the moment Of her arrival the
German cruiser rigidly excluded from
boarding ali persons except the neces-
sary federal officers and officials OF the
shipbuilding company. No one is al
lowed to communicate with the prison
ers, and officers and crew are silent as
TO conditions aboard.
Early last night the government OBJ
server at Cape Henry reported an IN
known steamer cruising off The Nir-
ginia Capes, which for some reason was
making no effort to enter the port. and
was displaying no signals. The incl
don't caused no interest
No Effort at Disguise.
The unknown ship was the Prinz
Eitel. Just before daylight the German
cruiser turned her nose landward and
entered the bay, proceeding to the
Roads. There was no effort at conceal
ment. The report that she Tas chased
into the Roads by British cruiser is
not believed here.
The moment the cruiser was recog-
nized there was a stir in shipping and
naval circles. Rear Admiral Beatty
at once got into communication with
the Navy Department at Washington,
asking instructions, as did also CoIlec-
tor Of Customs Hamilton. As to what
passed between the Washington and
local officials the rear admir4! and COZ
lector are silent. but on instructions
from the navy yard the coast guard
cutter Onondaga Immediately took up
a station a few yards away from the
German ship. Strict neutrality Will be
enforced.
The Prinz Eitel is rusty and badly
in need of paint. One side of the ship
is a dirty white and the other a SCARED
! brown, while neither name nor flag is
displayed TO indicate her nationality.
Other than this, there Is no indication
of the alleged needed repairs. She has
mounted on her deck two 6-inch guns,
sly 4-inch guns and four howitlcrs
Within an hour after dropping an
Choir the German commander was IN
communication with the officers Of the
Newport News Shipbuld3ng Company,
asking for machinery repairs 10 the
ship. He received no definite reply, the
superintendent informing him il would
+ be necessary first TO communicate with
/ Washington, to learn the wishes of the
government. The company. however,
expressed willingness to undertake the
work under rush orders if permitted TO
do so. and the Prinz Eitel raised her
anchor and steamed UP TO Newport
News, of the plant Of the shipbuilding
company.
The Prinz Eitel also sent message
to the German Embassy announcing her
arrival.
Americans AmoSg Prisoners.
Through the Quarantine officer, DR.
Hal W. McCaffery, Of Old Point Com
fort, whose duties required him TO i'm
mediately visit and inspect the cruiser
it was learned that Captain II. II
Kiehne, his wife, two small sons and
& crew of twenty-five are prisoners on
board the Prinz Eitel, all from the
American sailing ship William P. Frye
sunk by the Prinz Eitel on January q
in the South Atlantic. II is under
stood that the Frye was suspected o:
carrying contraband of war.
Among the prisoners are several
Frenchmen from the French liner
Floride, sunk by the German cruiser
off the coast Of Brazil. There are also
several British prisoners. but nothing
could he learned about them.
DR.. McCaffeTy reported that every.
body on the Prins Eitel seemed happy
and satisfied, and officers and crew OF
the warship were in excellent health
and physical condition. The command
or, he said. expected TO release all pris.
oners at Newport News, with the ex.
ception of four who have declined tC
be paroled with a promise not TO take
up arms against Germany during the
present war.
Three others will be detained" sale
Dr. McCaffery. zone has a wooden leg
another is suffering from tuberculosis
and the other is deaf. That will nat
urally force them TO be classed as un,
desirable immigrants.
The Eitel has a crew Of Is officers
and $50 men, including six Chinese
stewards. There were $50 prisoners.
Stopped Only at Valparaiso.
"The commander told me that h,
stopped at Valparaiso. where he tool
on provisions and also few more
prisoners, and discharged there some
English and French prisoners.
Or Ringer Knoneck is the surgeon
in charge Of the cruiser and every one
on board was satisfied that they haC
received the kindest treatment from
the officers Of the vessel.
THE Prinz Eitel Friedrich left
Using China, on August !, anl
made only the one stop, at Valparaiso
since that time, having on several oc-
casions narrowly escaped capture.
"A queer thing is that the British
steamer Daleham, with Captain Tag
CERT, bound for Newport News for
horses, also came into Hampton Roads
this morning. Captain Taggert said
he was a prisoner on the Prinz Elite
five months ago, having been captured
off the Gillian coast"
Collector Hamilton, who boarded the
ship, corroborated the statements o!
DR.. McCafFery. and declared the ap,
| rnnrnncn ~ lie dim In the Rnnds No