Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-04-01
BUNKERS
LOADED WITH COAL
Ready for Dash to Open Sea,
Should That Be
Plan.
M o We M EN- S MYSTERIOUS
Shipyard Guarded, and Patrol Is
Furnished for Yes
sells Pier.
A aOVE ENTS MYSTERIOUS

NEWPORT NEWS. VA. March 81
Under supervision OF the United States
Navy, the German merchant raider
Prinz Eitel Friedrich tonight Ia filing
her bunkers with coal. sixteen hun
dred tons were delivered alongside the
German ship or barges late in the day.
and the crew Immediately began the
task of coaling the vessel.
When the coal arrived at the ship
yard. where the Eitcl Friedrich is
dockcd, orders were at once given to
bar all approaches TO the yard for the
night. Captain Thierichens requested
the Washington government to furnish
patrol for the pier which his ship
occupies. and marines were sent from
the Norfolk Navy Yard for this duty.
Approach to the pier from the river
front rs well as from land entrances
to the yards was effectively barred
sHiPYARD rs GUARDED
AGAINST NEWSPAPER MEN
Particular orders were issued by Of
icals OF the shipyard to ali guards to
permit no newspaper man TO enter the
shiDyard. Efforts to gain admission to
the yards. even before dark, were un-
avniling, and notice was given that IT
would be useless to appeal to shipyard
officials for permission to enter the
yards. Attempts to get near the pier
by launch in the James River also we're
frustrated
Coalng the ship was begun about
o'clock in the afternoon. AS the first
sacks were hoisted from tho harges. the
ships band struck up German ma
tional air. and at frequent intervals
until a late hour the hard working
sailors laborcd to patriotic musical ac-
Compartment. At the rate the shin
was being coaled, 1t was estimated that
the supply allotted to the German com
mandcr by the American government
would be in the vessel n few hours be-
fore morning.
Permission was given Commander
Therichens to coal the merchant
raider following neutrality confer
ence In Norfolk late yesterday. in which
participated Rear-Admiral Beatty com
mander of the Norfolk Navy-Yard:
Rear Admiral Helm. commander of the
reserve Atlantic Fleet, whose hagship.
the Alabama, guards Hampton Roads
tonight, and Norman r. Hamilton,
collector OF customs for GNhis port
Collector Hamilton came to Newport
News from Norfolk just before the coal
barges arrived. and sent an official
message 10 Commander Th;crichens
Collector Hamilton returned to Norfolk
tonight. hut will be here again to-
morrow TO look after developments re-
iatng TO the German cruiser
COMMANDERS PLANS
ENSHROUDED IN MYSTERY
What Commander Thic-ichcns pro-
poses 10 do remains a mystery. The
coal he was permitted to take aboard
was measured by United States naval
officers. on the basis that il would he
sufficient TO supply the ship in a run
10 the nearest German port Bremen
was the port which figured in the Of
hcial naval apportionment Scores OF
rumors We're circulated from as many
sources as to the future course OF the
Eitefs commander. but q report given
considerable credence late tonight was
that the German captain had asked for
pilot One report was that he wished
TO have his ship piloted to the Norfolk
Navy-Tard to be interncd under the
neutrality laws Of nations. Another
was that he proposed before many days
10 mako a dash for the open sea. and
make daring attempt to run the
blockade OF British and French war
ships waiting for him off the Virginia
capes
Why he should take on board 40
much bunker coal II he intends TO in
tern his ship was explained in one
source on the ground that the German
commander wished to make it appenr
that he intends to make break for
liberty up to the very last minute in
order To hold the allies warships off
the Virginia coast.
WASHINGTON AUTHORITIES
KNOW HIS INTENTIONS
Washington authorities are known to
he thoroughly aware of the Intentions
Of the Eitcvs commander Messages
were interchangcd late in the day be-
tween the Treasury Department and
the customs office here, and the NAVY
Department and the navy-yard com
mander AT Norfolk. That the Elite,
would make no attempt to leave her
dock tonight was generally conceded.
I'm fact, she would not be permitted to
depart, because several British mer-
chant ships cleared Newport News this
afternoon. Under neutrality regula-
tons. therefore. the Eitcl could not
leave port until late Tomorrow
Information from the ship is variable
officers and men when they come
ashore or talk to friends DO not agree.
Some Insist that the merchant raider
VIII brave the hell-spitting gauntlet
Of the enemy warships outside tho
capcs. Others calmly assert that thew
believe the ship Will be informed by
order OF the United States before many
more days have passed. One man. who
has paid frequent visits TO the Eitel
Friedrich. asserted tonight that there
was no question that the Friedrich
would put to sea. regardless of con-
sequences.
"If she does not" he remarked, "I
cannot believe my own ears"
SCENE OF ACTIVITY
ABOUT GERMAN CRUISER
Throughout the night. while the
Prinz Eitel coaled with barEes on both
sides OF her. American sailors In a
United States naval launch patrollcd