The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1915-04-07
READY FOR ACTION
FORTS AND SHIPS READY TO EN-.
FORE NEUTRALITY.
SEA ROVER'S time IS UP

SEA ROVEB'S time IS UP
Prinz Eitel Frederick Has Choice of
Flight or rInternment-Battleship
Alabama on Hand to See That no
Unfair Advantage is Taken or Sc
cured.
A dispatch from Newport News
Monday says it is generally believed
there that the German auxiliary
cruiser Prinz Eitel Friedrich does not
intend to intern.
It is rumored that the delay of
Commander Thierichens in making
a move is due to no unpreparedness
on the part of his vessel, but to the
failure of the United States govern
ment to provide warships to protect
the Eitel in territorial waters.
Reports from Washington say that
Capt. Thierichens has asked the gov
ernment for protection from the al
lied ships while in neutral waters,
and that he has been assured that he
will not be molested while in the
three-mile limit outside the capes.
Other than two torpedo boats and
the submarine D-2, there are no war
ships that could protect the Eitel
against any hostile move by the for
eign vessels now reported lying in
wait outside Cape Henry. 1t is also
believed that the arrival of the bat
tleship Alabama from Philadelphia
| may be closely followed by the long
expected dash of the German cruiser.
The guns at Fort Monroe can only
protect the Eitel as far as the capes
and the Alabama will be used, it is
said, in conveying the German ship
outside while she remains in the
three-mile limit. Should she go to
New York to intern as reported,
there is a question as to whether or
| not she can find enough water in the
three-mile limit.
Not many more hours remain for
the German merchant raiding cruiser
! Prinz Eitel Frederick to hold her
status in American refuge at New
port News.
Government officials remain silent
as to the time given the vessel to
make repairs, but it is known the
time limit has almost expired, and
Capt. Thierichens either must daSh
soon for the open sea or submit to
internment of his ship for the le
| mainder of tie European war.
Although the prevalent opinion in
official quarters at Washington has
been that the Prinz Eitel would in
tern, the dispatch Of the battleship
| Alabama to Hampton Roads on neu-
trality duty has served to indicate
that navy department officials may
have reason to believe the warchip
| will put to sea. Reports are current
that the German government has
given notice of such intention.
In view Of the fact that British
and French warships are reported
outside the threc-mile limit off the
Virginia Capes, it is declared the
| Washington authorities deem it es-
sential to have means Of enforcing
| neutrality within the waters Of
American jurisdiction.
While it is not believed that Brit
ish or French ships would violate
| neutrality by coming inside the three
mile limit to attack the Eitel Fred
erick as she left, it is said to have
been regarded as necessary for this
government to provide means to meet
any possible emergencies.
On leaving Newport News the Eitel
could remain in coastal waters within
the three-mile limit, proceeding up
or down the coast, until twenty-four
hours after receipt Of notice from
the American government to depart.
To see that neutrality regulations are
not violated in this regard is advanc-
ed as one of the reasons for the send
ing of the Alabama to Hampton
Roads
For some reason unusual activity
has been displayed By the United
States navy around Newport News,
Va. The German merchant cruiser,
the Prinz Eitel Fredick is still tied
up at pier, but her officers say she
will leave some time.
Fortress Monroe nd Fort Wool,
in the centre of Hampton Roads, Fri
day night exhibited unusual activity.
All the troops stationed at the forts
were ordered to the barracks and the
big gun crews and mine companies
were sent to their stations. At $3.50
o'clock the engines around the guns
were started and the searchights t.
both forts were in operation.
Subsequently it Y as discovered
that one United States submarine and
three dcstroyers had arrived in the
Roads and droppeu anchor between
the two forts.
Col. Ira F. Haynes, commandant OF
Fortress Monroe, went to the Ports
mouth navy yard, it was said, and
the acting adjutant in charge said
that he could make no statement COZ
cerning the unusual stir at the forts.
The searchlights ere constantly play
ed over Hampton Roads and Chesa-
peake Bay out toward the Capes.
The Prinz Eitel Frederick was still
tied up alongside pier at the ship
yard, and has made no move as if to
leave. The lieutenant in charge said
the cruiser would not leave Friday
night, but 'some other night" Smoke
was seen rising from the funnel and
it was evident that fire was up in at
least one boiler.
The battleship Alabama, Of the re-
serve feet, was ordered to Hampton
Roads Saturday night on neutrality
duty" according to an announcement
from the navy department. The bat
tleship is at the Philadelphia yard.
Secretary Daniels said it was in
tended to place one large vessel on
guard to support the submarines and
destroyers, which have been on duty
since the German cruiser Prinz Eitel
Frederick reached Newport News. |
Heavy ships had been employed in
neutrality duty at Boston and New
York, the secretary said, and it was
thought best to take similar precau-l
tons at Hampton Roads, as the |
smaller vessels would be handicapped |
in the event of heavy weather.