New Britain herald., 1915-04-07
E|TEL HOSTS FLAGS
 AND BLOWS WHISTLE
Smoke Psufng From Funnt's;; Twenty-Five Allied Ships Held Up.
TINE LIMIT CLOSELY GUARDED

Not Thinking About Internment of
 German Raider Declares Collector
 Hamilton As He Prepares to Pay
 Visit to Vessel.
 Newport News, Va., April 7.-Short- ly before three o'clock the Eitel hoisted a line of signal flags and blew her whistle. One shriil blast was sounded. Smoke was pouring from both of her tunnels. Twenty five merchant ships flying flags of the allies, many of them loaded with horses, were being held up here today, refused clearances pending develop ments in the case of the German con- verted cruiser Prinz Eitel Friedrich.
 Outwardly, there was no more evil dence than there had been for several days whether the German raider would intern or make a dash to sea, although the American authorities were doing everything to give her a favorable opportunity for the latter if Capt. Thierichens chose it.
 Time Limit Closely Guarded.
 The Eitel's time. limit under the neutrality laws was as closely guarded as ever.
 We are not thinking about intern ment of the %Pff4l& Eitel Friedrich now,' declared Collector Hamilton to- day after he had waited expectantly throughout the night for the German cruiser to leave this port. As the collector spoke he was preparing to again visit the ship on orders from Washington, although he had said farewell to Captain Tnierichens and members of his staff last night.
 This declaration was the first au- thoritative admission concerning the mysterious negotiations relating to the ship in many days. Internment, the collector said, would be a simple process when the occasion arises.
 Not Yet Interned. One indication that the Eitel had not been interned early today was the continuation of the ban on de- parture of merchant ships of the al- lies ..a
 Customs officials here and at Nor folk were appealed to by British ship captains for permission to leave. They were told they could not leave port until further notice, and no as- surances were given as to when they
 might sail. Local business organiza- tions are asking for some definite move, maintaining that the situation is injurious to the business of this port. Officers and men of the EiteL had no shore leave today.
 The German commerce raider did not put to sea last night. Opportunity to leave neutral waters under cover of darkness was afforded by the United States government by denying clearance to merchant ships of Germanys belligerent enemies. Only Few Hours Remain. With the coming of dawn but a four hour periodin which the Eitel will four period in which the Eitel will be permitted to attempt to pierce the
 cordon of allied warships lowering outside the three mile limit off the Virginia Capes. Since Capt. Thie- richens' failure to take advantage of Q. particularly dark night to escape, belief here early today was that the cruiser would be interned
 The United States battleship Ala bama swept Hampton Roads with her searc.llights almost until dawn. All steam was up and the warship was prepared for any eventuality which might have arisen to threaten Amer ican neutrality.
 Every Porthole Covered. Aboard the Eitel all seemed dark ness, for every porthole had been covered. Collector of Customs Ham, ilton early in the night visited Capt. Thierichens on board the Eitel- When he left the first officer invited him to ''remain, and go with us." From his office in the customs house MT. | Hamilton kept in close touch with developments until long after mid night.
 Moving at her fastest speed, the l Eitel could not make the twenty 1 miles from her pier to the open sea under two hours. When she had not sailed at midnight, marine men be- came convinced that she would in 1 tern. Her only hope to escape the enemy warships. it was said, would l be for her to round Cape Henry and slip down the coast we'll inside the three mile limit until the enemy | patrol had been passed Success for such an attempt, they asserted, could be hoped for only under the cover of T,