The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1915-04-09
SUGCES BERLIN
MAKE PREPARATION
NOTE TO GERMANY ON SINKING OF
FRYE VERY BRIEF.
Uncle Sam Makes Claim for S222S, ,0S9.5f
With Interest From January
g, 915.

Washington, April On behalf OF
the owners of tie American ship, Will
liam P. Frye sank by the German
cruiser Prinz Eitel Friedrich, the
United States in note made public to-
day has asked Germany to pay an in
.dernnity of $22S S,O3954, which repre-
>sents tie vessels cost, freight charges
for it's cargo and damages resulting
from being deprived of the use of the
ship.
Inasmuch as the cargo became Brit
ish-owned while en- route no claim for
damages was presented by the preVl-
Gus American shippers. 1t is reported
that the German ambassador already
Gas recommended the payment of an
indemnity for the loss of tie vessel.
An announcement from the State de-
partment recording the presentation by
Ambassador Gerard Of the note to the
German foreign Office states:
Ambassador Gerard says the minis
lister for foreign affairs promised an
early reply and stated that he was
without information regarding the
matter, but understood t2at negotia-
tions were already under way between
Berlin and Was ington. The ambas
sador adds that the legal department
OF the foreign office is now consider
ing the points of law included"
The foregoing is understood to refer
to the negotiations which Ambassador
Bernstorff instituted here, full reports
of witch are beliesed to not yet Lave
reached the Berlin foreign Office on
account of the delays of mail communi-
cation.
This is the text of the instruction to
Ambassador Gerard:
''You are instructed to present the
following note to the German foreign
office:
Under instructions from my gov
ernment I have tie honor to present a
claim for $2S,O9554 with interest
from January %, 1915, against the Ger
man government on behalf of the own
ers and captain of the American sail
ing vessel William P. Frye for dam
ages suffered by them on account of
the destruction of that vessel on the
high seas by the German armed cruis-
er Prinz Eitel Friedrich on January
%, 1915.
The facts upon which this claim
arises and by reason of which the Ger
nan government of the United States
Sor the attendant loss and damages are
briefly as follows:
American Owned.
IT e William P. Frye, a steel sail
ing vessel of B,374 tons gross tonnage,
owned by American citizens and sail
ing under the United States flag AM
register, cleared from Seattle, Wash,
November 4, 1914, under charter to NJ.
H Houser, of Portland, Ore, bound for
Queenstown, Falmouth or Plymouth
for orders, with a cargo consisting
solely of 186,950 bushels Of wheat
owned by the aforesaid Houser ana
consigned unto order or to it's as
signs all of which appears from t. e
ships papers VI ich were taken from
the vessel at the time of her destruc-
tion by the commander of the German
cruiser"
"on January 27, 1915, the Prinz
Eitel FriedriG2 encountered the Frye
on he higl seas; compelled her to stop
and sent on board an armed boarding
party, who tool possession After Il
examinations of the ships papers the
commander of the cruiser directed that
the cargo be thrown overheard, but
subsequently decided to destroy the
vessel and on tie following morning,
by his order, the Frye was sunk.
Claim Itemized.
The claim of the owners and cap
tain consists of the following items:
:" Value Of ship, equipment and out
mt, $15C,OoO.
Actual freight as per freight list
5,o34. 1,OOO-2,24 tons at 36-6- eS, 1S0-
1876 at s4.S6, $39,75954,
: Travelling and other expenses Of
Capt. Kiehne and Arthur Sewall & Co.,
agents Of slip, in connection with
making afidavits, preparing and filing
claim, $500.
Personal effects of Capt. H H
Kiehne, $500
I Damages covering loss due to de-
privation of use Of ship, $37 500. Total,
S22S,O59.54.
by direction of my government I
Gnave the honor of request that full
-.o1oro+;oo bo r,o5o bv tho German