El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1915-04-08
EITEL
IS OUT Of WAR
Commander Decides to In
tern Rather than Be Sunk
by Waiting Foes.

Newport News. Va. April S.--Secre-
tary Daniels today gave formal orders
to rear admiral Beatty. commanding
the Norfolk navy yard TO. take the
German cruiser Pr.ns Eitel Friedrich
to the navy yard for internmeut
Admiral Beatty wiz determine to what
extent the ship VIII BE dismantled 10
prevent any attempt to leave port
Early today collector Hamilton for
mally aclluo vledged C o N IN a % d p
Thierichens letter announcing his de-
termination TO intern the fTInz Eltel
Friedrich and instructed him to Keep
the ship at her anchorage until naval
officials form plans for her removal
and internmeut
Commander Thierichens asked the
United States government through port
authorities Wednesday night to intern
MS snip and crew Up 10 the last
moment the German skipper kept up
the appearance Of being ready for a
dash TO the sea and when the time for
decision finally came. he explained that
failure of expected relief TO arrive
had made it necessary TO intern rather
than TO deliver crew and ship TO
fruitIess and certain destruction by the
French warships waiting Off the Nir-
ginis capes.r
Final Imperative Message.
Collector Of customs Hamilton
boarded the Eitel shortly after o'clock
Wednesday night with an imperative
notice from the Washington govern
ment that the time for his stay in this
port would expire at midnight and
that he must leave American waters by
4 o'clock on the morning OF April s.
Before the customs collector could de
liver the message commander Thier-
ichens handed to him the written an
nounCement of his decision.
More than a score Of British merchant
vessels were Immediately permitted to
port News and Norfolk were kept open
until 1880 o'clock issuing clearances-
German Announcement.
Following is the announcement hand
ed collector Hamilton by the commander.
Il inform you ] intend TO intern H
NJ $. Eitel Friedrich. The relief / eX-
pected did not appear. so the number
and force OF the enemy cruisers watch
ing the entrance Of the bay makes to
me impossible the dash for the open
sea with any hope Of success / have
decided not deliver ship and crew 10
fruitless and certain destruction Be
ing obliged for the courtesy shown by
all United States officials. i am eL-
pecting your orders. ! have sent the
same information TO rear admiral Helm,
L S :. Alabama Respectfully
fSigned) "Thierichens-"
Germans Are Gloomy.
As the collector read this spirit OF
gloom seemed TO pervade the com
manQer caOll anu eau e-A 1hE- -AAa
ship. Officers and crew We're aoWn-
cast. Commander Thierichens himself
declared that the action he was forced
TO take made him sick. that he was
heartbroken by being compelled to re-
sort 10 such a step. UnOfficially he
stated that he had never intended TO
intern If il were possible TO prevent
it, that he had hoped for the arrival
Of German forces 10 do battle with the
British and French warships OFF the
American coast and tr1s clear the way
for his return 10 the open sea
i would like TO have gone 10 sea
myself commander ThierIchens said
II would not hesitate 10 so, but I had
to think first Of my men"
Commando Thierichens' action came
At the end of a day filled with mysteri-
Gus actions. During the last few hours
Of grace the German captain had not
said a word TO Washington officials
about interninE. He had cOaled and
provisioned his ship. Repairs TO her
boilers had been made and everything
was prepared for a dash TO sea