The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1915-04-14
CRUISER INIERNS
ELTFL FREDERICK GIVES Up TO
PORT AUTHORITIES
EXPECTED AID FAILS

Commander Thierichens Sends Word
4 to Officials That Rather Than to
Deliver His Men to Certain Death
He Feels Compelled to Rand Over
His Ship to Their Keeping.
| Commander Max Thierichens, OF
the German auxiliary cruiser Prinz
Eitel Friedrich, asked the United
States government, through port
authorities at Newport News, Va,
Wednesday night, to intern his ship
and crew for the war.
Up to the last moment the German
skipper kept up the appearance OF be-
ing ready for dash to sea, and when
the time for decision finally came he
explained that failure OF expected
relief" to arrive had made 1t neces-
sary to intern rather than deliver
crew and ship to fruitless and certain
destruction by British and French
warships waiting OF the Virginia
Capes."
Thursday the commerce raider
made her last cruise Of the war. She
was taken to the Norfolk navy yard
across Hampton Roads from the ship
yard, where she has been laid up
since limping into port on March TO-,
after the remarkable commerce de-
stroying voyage from the Orient dur
ing which she sent the American ship
William P. Frye to the bottom.
Determination Of the German COM
mander. to intern his ship Immediate
ly operated to lift the American en-
barge against merchant ships Of a.
lied European nations leaving that
port. More than score Of British
| merchant vessels, which had been
held up, were permitted to leave.
Actual internment OF the Prtnz
Eitel, it was arranged in conferences
| between Rear Admiral Beatty, COM
mander Of the Norfolk navy yard;
Rear Admiral Helm, Of the battle
ship Alabama, and Collector Hamil-
ton, was accomplished Thursday, the
sea raider to be taken to the Nor
folk navy yard at Portsmouth, va.
There, breech locks Of her guns will
be removed and connecting rod Of her
engines detached.
Collector Hamilton received final
instructions from the Washington
government late Wednesday. When
he reached the Eitel Friedrich, he
found Capt. Thierichens awaiting
him. The German officer handed the
collector 4 sealed envelope containing
his announcement The letter wcs as
follows. The announcement wcs IN
the form of telegram to Assistant
Secretary Peters, Of treasury, from
Collector Hamilton, and was signed
by Capt. Thierichens. Z said:
sI inform you that I intend to in
! tern S. n. S. Prinz Eitel Friedrich.
The relief I expected appear not to
arrive in time so the number and
force Of the enemy cruisers watching
the entrance Of the bay makes to me
impossible the dash for the open sea
with any hope Of success. have de-
cided not to deliver crew and ship to
fruitless and certain destruction. Be-
ing obliged for the courtesy shown by
ali United States authorities, am ex-
pecting your orders. I have sent the
same information to Rear Admiral
Telm, U. S. S. Alabama.
Respectfully,
(Signed) "Thierfechens."
While Collector Hamilton read the
announcement which he Immediately
transmitted to Assistant Secretary OF
the Treasury Peters at washington,
there was a spirit Of gloom aboard
the ship. officers and crew appeared
downcast. Commander Thierichens
declared that he was heartbroken to
be compelled to resort to such step.
Unoficially, he stated that he had
never intended to intern il it were
possible to avoid it; that he had hop
ed for the arrival of German forces
to do battle with the British and
French warships of the American
coast and thus clear the way for his
return to the open sec.
81 would like to have gone to sea
myself" Commander Thierichens de-
| clared. 81 would not hesitate to 80,
but I had to think first Of my men. y
He said he realized the futility OF
/ COPING with the superior naval forces
Of the allies off the Virginia capes.
AS soon as Collector Hamilton had
received the decision Of Commander
Thierichens he notified Rear Admiral
Beatty. The latter notified Rear Ad-
miral Helm, on board the battleship
| Alabama, guarding the channel to the
sea, to prevent departure OF the Pr1nz
Eitel Friedrich from this port after
midnight Wednesday night. The de-
| cisior Of Commander Thierichens to
[ intern came at the close Of day NIL
ed with mysterious Developments. Up
to the last few hours OF grace the
German captain had not said word
to Washington officials about intern
ment. He had coaled and provision
ed his ship Repairs to her boilers
had been made and everything was
prepared for dash to the sea. Ger
man warships had been expected to
arrive to aid the Eitel Friedrich. Just
what these plans were which did not
materialize could not be learned. Tne
u commaI der is said to have declared,
however, that the reported approach
| of the German cruiser Won der Tam
with submarines, was not a part OF
! the plans of the German government
for his relief. The decision Of the
! WASHINGTON government as to the
time extended the Eitel Friedrich to
remain in American neutral waters
was reached March 20. From these
terms the government never deviated
They we're delivered to Commander
Thieriehens on that date in a letter
) written by Collector of Customs Ham
: ilton, as follows:
''Norfolk, Va, March 20, 1915.
"The Commander, S. N. S. Prin1
Eitel Friedrich:
"sir-Further governing the stay
Of S. N. S. Prinz Eitel Friedrich II
the territorial waters of the United
States, I have in compliance with In
structions from my department, tt
advise you as follows:
"The department of state has re
j 1,~+y ant