The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1915-03-17
SEA ROVER ESCAPES
GERMAN CRUSIER SNEAKS into
NEWPORT KEWSYi.
A REMARKABLE CAREER

Auxiliary cruiser Suddenly Appears
In Hampton Roads and is Said to
Have More Thu 500 Prisoners
Aooard-Started Career from the
Harbor Of Using Tau.
The German auxiliary cruiser Prinz
Eitel Friedrich slipped into Newport
News, Va, Wednesday. No one claims
to know the object Of her visit fur
eher than that she needs coal and
supplies. She is also said to be in
need Of repairs and may intern. She
Is said to have S2S French and Rus
sian prisoners Of war aboard. The
Prinz Eitel Friedrich was last report
at at Valparaiso, Chile.
The Prinz Eitel Friedrich arrived
of the Virginia Capes Tuesday night,
but did not enter Hampton Roads un-
til Wednesday morning. She then
steamed up to Old Point Comfort and
after complying with quarantine reg
plations, proceeded to Newport News.
where she dropped anchor shortly be-
fore II o'clock.
Much secrecy covers her move
ments and further than that she is in
argent need of coal and provisions
and also repairs, nothing has been
learned as to the cause OF her stop at
Newport News. One report, which is
unconfrmed, said that she was chas-
ed 70 the mouth of Chesapeake Bay
by a British cruiser.
The Prinz Eitel Friedrich Left Using
Tau, China, seven months ago. Re-
Gently she communicated with Val
paraiso, Chile, and since that time
her whereabouts has not been known.
The steamers armament consists OF
three eight-inch and ten fVe-inch
guns. She carries crew Of $50 men
and 13 officers. The S26 Russian and
French prisoners aboard the cruiser
are members Of the crews Of vessels
sunk by her.
Immediately after the Prinz Eitel
Friedrich dropped anchor the reve-
nue. cutter Onondaga went alongside.
The captain Of the cutter is expected
to make full report to Collector OF
Customs Norman r. Hamilton.
L is believed that the cruiser Will
attempt to get away within the pre-
scribed time to avoid being interned
While at sea the cruiser was painted
white on one side and black on the
other.
According to the doctrine laid
down by the American government in
ether cases similar to the Prinz Eitel
Friedrich, the collector Of customs at
Norfolk must give the commander OF
the German ship "a hours from the
time of his arrival to take coal and
provisions.
II the ship needs repairing, how
ever, she has a longer respite. In
that case the naval constructor at the
port will make an examination and
report what would be reasonable
time to make the necessary repairs
and the German ship would be given
~ hours in addition to that time
Meanwhile, the American government
would keep the time Of her departure
a secret so no unfair advantage might
accrue to hostile ships which might
gather in wait for the German aux
iliary.
Similar cases arose in connection
witt. the German gunboat Geir, In
termed at Honolulu after repairs to
her machinery, and the steamer Farm
at San Juan, Porto Rico.
Officials at Washington were OF the
opinion that the presence Of British
and French cruisers close on the At
lantic coast might influences the Ger
man commander to intern.
How the Eitel Friedrich had man
aged TO get through the lines Of hos
I tile ships which have been patrollins
the Atlantic was the subject Of much
speculation in naval circles.
The disposition Of any prisoners
OF war the German ship may have
aboard viii raise another question.
It Is possible they may be paroled.
American officials were awaiting Of
fetal information before announcing
any action.
Word Of the arrival Of the Prinz
Eitel Friedrich was communicated to
the German embassy at Washington
By her captain.
The announcement was received
with surprise, as nothing had been
heard from the vessel for many
weeks and it was believed she was
somewhere of the coast Of South
America.
The only report the captain made
to the embassy was that he had put
into Newport News. He did not give
any details or ask for any instruc-
tions. His dispatch, however, was
promptly forwarded from the en-
bassy at Washington to Count Won
Bernstorff. the ambassador, who is
IN New York, and to the German
naval attache, Capt. Boyd, also
there. After consultation, it is be-
Heyed they will send instructions to
toe captain advising him what to do.
Rear Admiral Beatty. commanding
the Norfolk navy yard, sent mes
sage briefly reporting the arrival OF
the Prinz Eitel Friedrich.
Naval officers at Washington made
no corcealment Of their admiration
for the remarkable cruise Of the Ger.
man ship, which they said was abso-
lutely without precedent in the his
S-AS>SN-A~S
In duration the remarkable exploits
Of the German cruiser Emden.
The auxiliary cruiser Prinz Eitel
Friedrich started out on her career
on warship from Using Tau. She
formerly was a regular liner Of the
North German Lloyd.
She reached Using Tau shortly af
ter the outbreak Of hoStilitieS AMI
tue German authorities at that per-
equipped her with naval guns and
turned her into an AUXILIARY cruiser
She sailed from Using Tau before the
Japanese attacked that port and car
ly IN November she was reported Of
the western coast Of South America
where for several months she has
been active in the pursuit Of British
and French shipping. One of her ex-
ploits was the sinking early in De-
cember Of the British steamer Char
cas off Chile