New-York tribune., 1915-03-13
Destroyers Take Stations
Outside This Port to
Block Any Escape.
HINT THAT EITEL Is
PLAYING DECOY ROLE
Armored Cruiser Is Sent to BoS.
ton, Where Six German
Liners Are Tied Up.

Since the arrival Of the German con-
verted cruiser Prinz Eitel Friedrich az
Newport News Wednesday this gov
ernmcnt has given exceptional atten-
ton TO the guarding OF ports where
vessels of belligerents are either tied
up or taking cargo for Europe.
It has been explained by the customs
officials in this port and in Boston
that the governments extreme precau-
ton is not directed against the vessels
of any particular nation, but 1t is gen
orally believed that the move IS made
primarilv to see that no German mer-
chairman gets away without proper
clearances.
German vessels have been practical
ly the only offenders IN this regard
They have left this and other ports
with coal and food supplies for Ger
man cruisers, and have even gone so
far as TO leave this harbor and equip
subsequently as converted cruisers:
Great Britain and France have had
no occasion 70 resort 70 such practices,
and the customs authorities nave had
no trouble with them in the matter Oh
carrying cOntraband.
lnasmuch as Germany has not only
been caught acting in bad faith III the
mltter Of neutrality at American ports
but has gone so far as TO SINK an
American vessel carrying non-con-
traband cargo, it is generally belleved
that the present activity of the Treas
urv and Navy departments is aimed
chiefly 10 prevent Germany from re-
peating such performances.
Malone Calls Conference.
Collector Dudley Field Malone called
\ conference Yesterday at the Custom
House. under instructions from Wash
ington. which was attended by Rear
Admiral Nathaniel r. Usher, com
mandt of the New York Navy Yard,
and Captain Godfrey l.. Garden, OF the
United States Coast Guard cutter Mo-
hawk. II was explained that the meet
ING was held that the Navy and Treas
ury Department heads IN this port
MIGHT work forcefully and harmo-
niously in preserving the regulations
Of neutrality IN this port, but 1t is be-
lieved that the conference really
brought out the fact that this port
needed special protection just now. and
that attention should not be diverted
from il to Newport News. where the
Prinz Fitel Friedrich IS undergoing re-
pairs.
The Friedrich's master has an
nounced his intention OF getting out
again on the sea when his repairs are
made. and this has caused British
cruisers TO concentrate in careful pa
troll off the Virginia Capes. This IS
situation, it is believed, conducive to
a quick getaway for German steam
sbips anxious 10 get out on the Az
lantic az commerce destroyers or feed
ers for the cruisers Karlsruhe, Dres-
den AID Kronprinz Wilhelm.
With a heavy fog over the haroor'
German vessels could easily make the
omen sea. and with the British. cruisers
concentrated off Norfolk their chances
of getting away would be excellent.
Such an escape will not occur II the
Treasury and Navy departments can
prevent it, and TO prevent a flight WITH
out clearauces strong guard Is 10 De
put over this harbor.
Destroyers Sent Here.
Some time to-day or tomorrow the
United States destroyers Macdougal
and Drayton will take station IN
Gravesend Bay, and the Coast Guard
cutters Mohawk and Dolphin VIII keep
watch OIL lOmpklhSNIle' Inv
ers are the fastest in the navy ana
we're ordered from Guantanamo on
Thursday.
Collector Malone said yesterday that
no German vessel in this port had
takcn out or had asked for clearance
papers. lit =; D.
ron. where six German steamships are
Tied up but not interned. None OF
tbese vessels. which include the North
German Lloyd liner Kronprinze:ssin
Cecilie and the Hamburg American
liners Amerika and Cincinnati, has ap-
piled for clearance papers.
As a precaution that these steam
sbins will not get away, the Navy De
partment has assigned the armored.
cruiser Brooklyn to take position on
Boston Harbor.