New Britain herald., 1915-03-11
UNITED STATES TO
PROBE SINKING OF
AMERICAN ship, FRYE
Continued From First Page.)

3 + "a III
Continued From First Page.)
German vessel had lodged unsuspect-
ed and unframed into this port
through gauntlet OF beiligerent war
ships whose wireless signals had be-
trayed their presence
In the wake Of the German war
ship, barnacle-covered and crippled,
lay the hulk Of an American merchant
ship at the bottom Of the South At
lantlc ocean with the debris Of seven
ships Of England, France and Russia,
allies IN the war against Germany If
in the Pacific ocean, where the Eitel
Friedrich operated for months before
there We're other ships sent to the
bottom by the converted cruiser, her
officers kept silent on the subject.
Repaired in Six Weeks.
The Eitel Friedrich still had on
board today victims OF the hazards Of
war and her master, Commander
Thierichsen, had asked American
officials for time to repair his shop.
He Indicated to Customs Collector
Hamilton that the vessel could not be
repaired under six weeks. Mean
while British cruisers whose signals
had been heard, were believed to be
lying off the Virginia Capes. Collec-
tor of Customs Hamilton was pre-
pared, under instructions from Wash
trgton to proceed again today to the
Eltel Friedrich to get formal state
ment from Commander Th1er1chsen as
to why he sank the American sailing
ship William P. Frye off the South
American coast, with $500 tons Of
1lJ1o fny 7
Thierichsen was awaiting instructions
from the German embassy at Wash
lngton and was expecting Capt. Boy
Ed, naval attache Of the embassy, to
be on hand to aid him. Also Capt
H. H. Kiehne. master of the sunken
American ship VIM. p. Frye, was pre-
pairing to give supplemental state
ment regarding the fate of his ILL
ft.ted craft.
In Newport News hotels there
awakened on land the commanders of
other known marine victims OF the
Eitel Friedrich, W. j. King Of the
British ship Invercoe, sunken Febru-
airy February IL; A. E. Dobbing of the
Mary Ada Short, British, sunk Feb
ruary 10; Captain Monssion of the
French passenger ship F1oride, sunk
February 10: J. Wedgewood master
OF the British ship Willerby, sunk
on February 20: Axmar Erickson, OF
the Isabel Brown, Russian ship, sunk
Feb. 27; v. LeRoux, of the French
ship. Jacobsen, sunk January %, and
Master Trenchant. of the French
airy 81.
Group of Passengers.
In addition to these were a group Of
first class passengers of the French
passenger ship F1oride, who were per-
mltted to remain ashore under guard
o. immigration officials.
Only two British ships left here yes
terday, their commanders believing
that the Eitel Friedrich would be in
termed One was the Anglo NJ exican
bound for Avonmouth with horses for
England and the other was the British
steamer Bolton Hall with wheat for
Italy.
It was stated here early today that a
number OF Englishmen held on board
the German warship had refused to
agree not to bear arms against Ger
many and her allies.
Celebrate Commanders Birthday.
Early today the band of the Eitel
Friedrich was playing German nation
al airs IN celebration or the birthday
of Commander Thierichsen. All but
port officials were still barred from
her decks.
Collector Hamilton prepared to get
a detailed statement on the sinking of
the VIM. p. Frye, and Capt. H. H.
Kiehne Of the Frye, came ashore to
make a further statement. He said
the crew Of the Frye would be
brought ashore alter to be questioned.
Chased by British.
At 9 o'clock this morning the Eitel
Friedrich had been in Hampton roads
thirty-six hours and no signs of any
intention to move were apparent
British cruisers were indefinitely re-
ported lurking off the Virginia Capes.
and a boatman who delivered papers
to officers of the German cruiser de-
clared members of her crew had told
him the Eitel actually had been
chased into American waters by Brit
ish cruisers.
when 1 returned to the Eitel
Friedrich last night" said Captain
Kehne, "the German officers ali
seemed assured that the ship would
L. 4,