The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-04-04
HoW Prinz Eitel Friedrich
May Elude Enemy Ships

Marine men who have studied the
waters outside the Virginia capes say
that the Prinz Eitel Friedrich, il she
attempted n run to the northward,
would not have to run out as far as
the Cape Charles lightship. but on her
draft could pass inside South Shoai,
which the Cape Charles lightship
MARKS on its eastern end. The only
difficulty. in order to keep within the
three mile limit. would be to round
Nautilus Shoal; but once clear of Maui
titus Shoel she could reach the three
mile limit with nearly Ave fathoms of
water under her keel all the way up
to Cape Hcnlopen. This would neces-
state passing through the Chinco-
league Chanpel. off Chincoteague, but
in that harfnel there is not less than
five and n half fathoms of water.
From Cape Henlopen northward the
only question would involve passing
inside McCries Shoal. This could be
done, but the three limit would
be exceeded unless the British cruis-
ers considered the waters OF the Del
aware extended to the Five Fathoms
Bank liChtship.
The British cruisers stationed off
New York are regarding. it is said.
the Ambrose ightship as marking the
land limit of New York. and are keep
ing beyond three miles of that light
ship. If the same reasoping APPLIES
to the Virginia capes. then the Cape
Charles lightship is marking the off
shore limitation of the British cruis-
ers stationed in that vicinity
strain ON the Watchers.
Just at this time when the Prinz
Eitel is expected to make a dash the
strain on board the battleships, it is
said by marine men, must be very
great. The commanders of the British
cruisers cannot exactly explain away
any escape of the German ship short
of lack of efficiency on their part, and
men who havA undergone the strain
of watching on blockade appreciate
what this strain must mean.
During the civil war the blockade run
ners often lay for several days in full
sight of the blockading fleet on Whining
ton. n. c., bar and then deliberately
dashed out when the weather conditions
were good. The Florida lay for fully
three months in Mobile Harbor. outfit
ting and preparing for her cruise, and
when finally ready her comman der, Capt.
J. n. Meffctt, deliberately ran her through
the Gordon of blockading vessels. Every
effort had been made to prevent just
such a getaway. but despite all the pre-
cautions taken the Confederate succeeded
in running the gauntlet.
Men who remember the DAYS Of civil
war blockade running say that the Prinz
Eitel is not confronted with n more scri-
GUS risk today than the Confederate
blockade runners took repeatedly. The
effect of shell from one of the Union
navy guns was relatively as disastrous
to the hull of a blockade runner as would
be the shell from a rapid-firc gun today.
The blockade runners had to pass close
to the blockaderS. often within a few
hundred yards. whereas the PrinE Eitel
might hope. with her great speed. to out
run any of the cruisers lying in wait for
her.
Draws Twenty-Five Feet.
The weather conditions for the next
four days, at least. with the bright moon
light, are bad for run through a block
aiding line. but in the course of the COM
ing fortnight April showers. with dark
nights will be in and will afford just tho
sort of conditions that blockade rum
ming ship would wish for. So long as
British merchant craft persist in passing
out of Cape Henry so long must the Prinz
Eitel be held in port. for under interna-
tional law an armed belliserent vessel
may not follow a vessel OF the enemy fla
short of twenty-four hours.
A study of the chart shows that a YES
within the three-mile limit for big
stretch down the coast drawing no more
than twenty-five feet of water. This, il