The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1915-03-17
TO CONTINUE SHIPPING RAID
xRINZ EITEL'S COMMANDERS
h SAYS HE WILD RESUME
fKla FORMER ACTS.
Captain OF German Cruiser Says He
Has Had Luck I'm Recital of War
on English Merchant Vessels.


Capt. Max Thierichens. commander OF
the German converted cruiser Prinz
Eltel Friedrich. merchant raider for
the Fatherland i'm the Atlantic and
Pacific oceans and destroyer OF an
American ship. today broke his seal
Of silence since he reached anchor
age In an American port.
The German commander, who
brought his ship TO this port last
"Wednesday. said he had been too busy
20 talk for publication until now. and
ne consented to say few words.
The commander was asked IL his
raid OF the seas was over. Fest
wsiter." he explained in German.
meaning as he explained. I'VE haven't
given IL up by long way" The Of
Seer emphasized his statement with a
slam OF his fist on the coffee table
and continued: ~
We had luck and we shall have
more. hope"
AS you know" Commander THE
richens continued. I'VE cruised for
days without seeing n thing on Chile.
Our coal was almost gone. We were
really In a bad way. Then one day
ws sighted n sailing ship. A squad
went aboard and demanded that she
show her colors. She admitted that
che was the French ship Jean.
when We read the signal wis-wag-
ged back by our boarding crew II
was IN II q roast pigeon were to ny
Into the mouth Of n starving man.
French ship Jean. came the message,
loaded with best Cardiff coal
There was heavy sea running and
we didn't dare come alongside. SO I
cave orders that we sail her TO the
nearest place. found an ideal place
called Easter Island on an atlas. Our
crew took her. but later I offered the
French a chance to sail their own
ship under our orders with pay and
they accepted. .'
But this was too slow. so we took
her In tow. When we wero underway
again we sighted the English boa,
Kildalton and took after her with our
tow line jerking along behind. We
soon finished her and then proceede
TN we. reached Easter Island with
our prize. We landed and when we
found there was no particular danger
We rested and quietly coaied. 1t was
like feeding n hungry man."
The captain explained that before
he landed the crews of the Jean and
the Kildalton he ascertained that an
Englishman's yacht was In the harbor
and that word could easily be taken
for their relief.
Next to coal the greatest need the
Eitel felt I'm her long journey. the
commander said was water. Because
OF the water shortage. he said. the
Eitel anchored In the rain belt near
Pernambuco. and spread all sail
not perpendlcularly. but nat--and
waited. and for forty-eight hours the
rains descended and the tanks were
niied.
I'VE were out OF the track of
liners" said the captain. "and could
hardly believe II when we saw the
French steamship F1oride appear,
ing"
Here Commander Thierichens paus-
cd to give word OF praise for the Flor
ida's captain.
There Is n real gentleman" he
said. referring to Capt. Moission. AT
hrst his patriotism made II hard for
him TO compose himself on our boat,
but later when he had accepted the
situation he bore his position like a
true gentleman"
The commanders glance fell on n
few sprigs OF wheat growing from n
box In his cabin window.
you can't imagine what that lit
tie growing green meant to U.S." nc
said. Even in the cities you can
look into florists shop. But through
these months on the sea we yearned
for IL. SO when We reached Easter
Island we filled baskets with earth.
All We had TO plant were beans and
peas and We soon found that they
were not growing. wo were just
about ready To give up our window
gardens when there came a wheat
ship. We planted some of II and you
see II Is growing"
Easter Island was bright page in
the Eitel Friedrich's history and Il
strange little Christmas tree at the
captains elbow. still bearing its gold
and candles. was relic. the officer
said from last Christ mass celebratinn