The Washington herald., 1915-02-28


shot, properly placed, could sink the
steamer we were on. The Nieuw
Amsterdam stopped as ordered.
Armed with Revolvers.
with Iieuts. Wadsworth and McConkey.
OF the Royal Navy. on board came as
rapidly as possible toward US. Our
steamer reached. the lieutenants board
ed us. Both officers had revolvers In
holsters strapped around their waists.
They made their way at once to the
captains quarters with an energetic and
determined air that appeared to mean
business. but to many Of US it did not
seem real The whole thing savored more
Of Gilbert and Sullivan. more Of comic
opera than Of reality. for We were rot
out of sight Of New York.
was standing on the boat deck with
Herbert Corey the famous war CORES
president Of the National Press Club.
and Raymond +. Swing. both Of whom
were going to Euorpe to reprcs
the Chicago Daily News. when word
came out that certain passengers were
to be called to the captains office to
show their passports and establish their
identity to the satisfaction of the British
officers.
Demand for Passports.
1t turned out that that was the case
and the first to be called to the witness
stand was a second cabin passenger.
one Manasseh Marcowitz. born in nor-
mania, but a naturalized American citi-
zen: the next was William Salzman. born
in Austria, but also a naturalized Ameri-
can citizen. In a few minutes both these
men emerged from the captains cabin
heaving signs OF relief. Their examina-
tons had been short and satisfactory.
Next on the list was Paul L. Beck, ma
tive American by birth; then came Mort
Shackman, also American born.
BY this time I was chatting with the
British signal man. brought on board to
do their wig-waggihg for them. and he
asked me IL 1 would let him have New
York paper. as they had not had one
since Monday. I went to my stateroom
and got 4 paper to give him. On my way
out a steward nearly ran into me and
said:
"Mr Krebs, ! have been looking all
over the ship for you. You are wanted
in the captains office. Please bring
your passport with you"
So, the passport which I had looked
on as mere means Of Identification
when travelling in countries at war was
necessary to me, a native-born American
citizen. passenger on a neutral ship. and
still within sight Of New York.
As soon as We left the dock. i had put
my passport with all my letters OF in
PRODUCTION and other valuables into a
box in the purser's office and l hurried
down to get 1t. No one was around.
sent two or three boys looking for
some one who could open the box. but 10
one could be found. The boarding party,
SO near out coast. was as unexpected II
the Srew as to the passengers and their
interest was as great as ours.
Appealed to the Captain.
Another steward came down and said.
please hurry. Mr.. Krebs. the steamer
is being held up on your account and
still no one at hand Who could open
the box Next Corey. Schuette and
Swing appeared and called to me.
"Krebs. you're wanted" At last came a
man who had a duplicate key, the now
precious passport was In my possession
and I started to climb the stairs to the
captains office with the above mentioned
gentlemen. On the way UP decided.
as the result Of a hurried conference.
that as the captain of the Nieuw AM
sterdam was in command Of the ship on
which / was a passenger. and as We
were not In British waters. 1 would not
hand my passport, as the others had. to
the British officer. but would only hand
him.
walked into the captains quarters.
closely followed by Corey, Schuette and
Swing. Bowling pleasantly to me. Capt.
Baron said:
This gentleman wants to see your
passport Indicating Lieut.. Wadsworth.
who was seated opposite him.
1 said: Captain. you are in command
OF this steamer. I will neither hand nor
show my passport to any one but You.
and only then II ordered by you to do
So"
Capt. Baron answered, "The gentleman
will oblige me to show it to him."
said. Captain. do I understand that
you order me to turn my passport over
to your
The captain nodded his head and I
said: VERY well. I will do so. but
object to you showing II to any one.
This gentleman should be willing tc take
your word as an officer and a gentle
man that my papers are in proper form
and that I am the man named therein"
handed my passport to Capt. Baron.
While he was reaching for his glasses
to look at II. Lieut.. Wadsworth reached
over and. without saying by your leave.
took II. Looking II over quickly. giving
. glance from my picture. pasted on the
passport. to me and then back once
more to the picture. he gave . wave Of
his hand to Indicate that had estab-
!i5lhed my identity to his satisfaction and
my ordeal was over.
Declined - De IntervievveA.
Before We left the cabin said TO the
lieutenant: I'VE are all Americans. rep
resenttng between NJ = large number Of
American newoDapefs. You have do