The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-04-08

Newport News, Va, April S--The United States government at 12 o'clock last night at the request of Commander Thierichens took over ! for tntennment the German converted cputser Pr4nz E:ftel FFdederich. to hold I her till the end of the war
 Collector of Customs Hamilton, in 20 that the departure of the ship must not be later than midnight of Aprn 8, or inteRnment would follow. AEr Hamilton at g o'clock last leven-s ing presented further requirement. that the Prinz EsiteI pass the three n1E1e limit leaving American territor- k1na waters not 1ater than 4 o'clock bezzfs .rnorning. Cornmander Thterich- eng, who was expecting the collectors vfs1t. answered by presenting typed lae1sr in which he asked for intern kxs1e The letter follows:
 10 CnKactof of Customs:
 [ 1unhornn you intend to intern s. k1as-S Rrtnz Eite1 Friedrich The re- F3efE expected appear not to arrive. in thna. SC. the number and force of the femnn1y cruisers watching the entrance Tor the bay makes to me, impossible 1upe Of success. [ have decided not Fto deliver crew and ship to theI fruitless and certain destruction Being obliged for the courtesy fsnown by all United States authort- kkleG, I am expecting your orders I Snave sent the same information to kRaar Admiral Helm, U. s. s. Ala sDarna- Respectfully,
 THTEzRFCHrrTss
 Apr4l ?. 1sIs.
 Hoped for Vonp Der Taum.
 The commander of the German < Hmf7er ifldicated that up to the last kznoznent he had hoped to put to sea fthat he had looked forward for four weeks to the arrival of a German 8prce off the Capes that by attacking sst1ae. British and French ships there would give him chance to break t1nrough-s It is understood that the krelde8 he expected wass the German battle cruiser Won Der Tam. which is said to have left, Germany some weeks ago carrying submarines on liner deck. and which since then has been reported to be in the South Att E1an1c The plan was for the Sub Ezxnarines to attack the enemy, while tine Won Der Tam made a. diversion from the sea. and the sPrinz Edtel Friedrich escaped from the harbor!
 Though Commander Th1er1cnens had known for almost three weeKs just when his time would expire. not once did he give any fntimation that E1ae would intern, and his sailors last might were in Ignorance that intern rnent was an accomplished fact. The
 
 when the collector visited him last evening, and his face expressed his disap ppointment at the failure of aid to reach him.
 would like to go out" he said with a litt1eg smile. tsbut [ have had to think of my men
 The last few days of the Eitels free stay in this port proved to be 8 ser ious embarrassment to British com nerce- Since a few days after her arrival here she has held not less than three British cruisers and one French warsf1ip in likeness off the capes in expectation of her departure In order to give the cruiser g. free exit if saea decided to go, the American governmsnt held up a donen British and Russian ships that were-Peady to sail, and twice that number of ship captains were complaining o9 their dn- ability to get away yesterday.
 MT. Hamilton did his best last night to lessen the inconpe1tence the neeessit1es of the case had put upon the allied shipping. After receiving Commander ThieE1chen's request for internmenf at T D. he reported at once to Acting Secretary of the Treas ury Peters in Washington then called up the various ship captains and in formed them that the embargo was open Hu 1O:S0 o'clock last night to permit olearfngs ,and eight or ten ships left port before midnight.
 Oacers VIII Be ParoIed
 After presenting his letter, Com mander Thier1chens had five hours re- naming in which he was at liberty to start for sea But his ship remained 1noored to her pier and the military and naval guard kept it's post Rear Admiral Helm, on board the battle ship Alabamas was requested by MT. Hamilton to prevent the EitePs de- parture if attempted after uaidnight and to-day the Admiral and MT Ham i1ton will formally take possession. The cruiser will then be taken to the Norfolk navy yard. Her officers will be paroIed and. although the men will remain on board they will receive a The officers will have the freedom of the country, under obligations not to leave American soil.
 Last nights developments put an fend to reports that the Government at Washington had been extendins the period for the Eftef's repairs from time to time. MT. Hamilton made puba1csthe letter he wrote to Conrnan- der Th1erfchens. on March 20, setting forth the time that would be allowed for repadrs and departu L~That ffmesneveEHh has been extended or mod thed.
 Annarican Government. in pur- suances of its responsibility as neu- FCral was SerupulOuSz in keeping secret kthe time at which the German crui- ser would be compelled to take to the Esea, or intern. To prevent any pos s1bd1ty cf leakage of information, MT Hamilton himself wrote ,on his type -Wzgaear his letter of March 20 to Com u1auder Thierfchenssr and until last 1u1gzat the only copy of the letter here twas 1ockeddn the safe in the Custom House
 Modification to the EfteI
 Tne~Commander, s. M. S. Prinz Elite
 Friedrich:
 Sfr.-F'urther governing the stay o1 lE. M s. Prfnz Eite1 Friedrich in the ifarriforia1. ruaters of tI1e IInifed Sfafes