The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1915-03-17
Will NOT intern.
COMMERCE RAIDER MAY TRY TO
MAKE ITS ESCAPE
GOES into DRY DOCK
Captured Crews ON Board Eitel Fried
rich are Released-Captain Says
He Destroyed American Ship Car
rying Wheat-Members Of Crew
Tell Tales Of Sea.

Commander Tierichens OF the Ger
man converted cruiser Prinz Elite
Friedrich, which went into dry docl
at Newport News, Va, for repair:
Thursday submitted two statements
to Customs Collector Hamilton Of thai
port.
One stated his reasons for sinking
in south Atlantic waters January 2S
last, the American sailing ship viii
liam P. Frye and with her cargo oi
5000 tons of wheat consigned tc
! Queentown. The other related tc
the length of time that will be re-
quired to repair his ship.
In the statement relating to the
repairs necessary on the Eitel Fried.
rich, it was believed the German
commander declared the vessel could
be made seaworthy within a few
days or a week at most. Whether he
stated in the communication that he
wished to depart as soon as Ameri-
can naval authorities could pass on
repairs that are to be made. was not
disclosed. The German commander
previously made it clear, however,
that it was not his intention to intern
his ship.
AS to the condition of the Eitel
Friedrich's engines and boilers he
reported that whereas she had been
making IS knots an hour at the be-
ginning of her campaign against enc
my merchant ships she scarcely dar-
ed make - when she reached Ameri-
can waters early Wednesday morn
ing.
After the German cruiser went into
dry dock Thursday night she dis
charged the crews Of British, French
and Russian ships she had sunk, hav-
ing released the American crew in
the afternoon. The French crews left
for New York. A few Russians went
with them. The British crews plan
to return to England on British ships
laden with horses from this port.
Commander Thierichens assured
officials that neither he, officers or
men Of the Eitel Friedrich would set
foot on American soil except or Off
cial business. He made this state
ment to Collector Hamilton after
stating that it was his intention not
to intern his ship.
In Newport News ship yard Thurs
day night the released sailors Of
British ships, after receiving their
kits, marched TO street cars, singing
"Tipperary."
Commander Thierichens agreed to
deliver in writing to the American
government his explanation and rea-
sons for sinking in the south Atlantic
ocean the American sailing ship Will
liam P. Frye. He also agreed, after
Collector Hamilton had boarded the
German merchant marine destroyer
and submitted neutrality require
ments of the Washington government,
to communicate an estimate Of the
time required to repair his ship, at
the same time stating that it was his
desire not to intern his vessel but to
proceed as soon as the necessary re-
pairs could be made.
To the request of the Washington
government that he land the crews Of
the captured and sunken vessels and
such passengers as could comply with
immigration regulations, the German
commander gave assent.
The Eitel Friedrich herself steam
ed into the Newport News ship yard
and went into dry dock, where ex-
perts began an examination OF her
condition. Held on board were about
IS third class passengers Of the
French steamer Floride. refused ad-
mission by immigration inspectors on
the ground Of ineligibility. Consuls
of the nations represented among the
passengers will arrange as soon as
rossibla for their departure to Ellis
Island. New York, and for their de-
portation.
The crew of the Frye was taken to
the customs house and maze sworn
statements of circumstances attend
ing the sinking OF the ship January
2S last off the river Platte. Collector
Hamilton prepared a joint summary
OF conditions which the members OF
the crew signed. to be forwarded to
Washington. They were not made
public.
Collector Hamilton said that all
the testimony was in line with the de-
tails given by Capt. Kiehne. master
of the ship. who has said that his ship
was blown up with her cargo Of
wheat for Queenstown, after the crew
had been. warned to board the Ger
man cruiser.
Two members of the Frye's crew
remained on the Eitel Friedrich.
They were German subjects. Charles
Frank and Robert Roeee. who were
held by Commander Tierichens be-
cause of eligibility for service in Ger
man arms. These men made no re-
quest to come to American soil. will
ingly remaining on board the Eitel
Friedrich, and were pressed into ser
vice.
Controversy arose over the paners
Of the destroyed American ship Frye.
Collector Hamilton. in the name .)f