Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1915-03-25
GERMAN OFFICER
.DROPSDEAD ON
SONOMADEd

! Lieut.. ''arl kutzer. an officer in the
German reserves. who had been a
prisoner at the Liverpool camp near
Sydney. y. S. W., dropped dead on
the deck of the Oceanic liner Sonoma
before the vessel had left the harbor
on it's voyage to Honolulu and San
Francisco. The SCnoma arrived here
this morning.
Capt. J. H. Trask stopped the YES
sci and summoned police assistance
A launch visited the ship and the body
of the German officer was taken back
to Sydney.
Lieut. Kutzer was among officers
captured by the British when they
took possession of German New
Guinea He had been kept at the
detention camp with hundreds Of 9TH
err prisoners. He was reported miss
ing scme days before the .Scnoma
sailed for the United States. 4 gen.
elal search was made by the Sydney
police Cd board all vessels then in
the harbor 1t proved fruitless. 49,
When the Scnoma left the dock,
Capt TraslS ordered a roundup. of
stewaways. In zone CT the Iffeboats,
concealed .under,,-a starpaulin, they
found the German Officer more dead
than alive. He was completely ex-
hausted. When lifted TO. the deck he
dropped unconscious, and death fol
lowed a, few minutes later. ii.
From two German, companions it
was learned that Lieut.. Kutzer had
succeeded in eluding the guard sta
tened at the prison camp and had
boarded the vessel, four days before
the Sonoma steamed for San Francis
CO.. He had failed to provide himself
with food or. water and was unable
to leave the lifeboat because of the
vigilance exercised by the police. The
excessive heat then prevailing at Sgd
ney is believed to have been the di-1
rect cause of his death. ST.. y
On the clothing. of the dead officer
was. found a number of papers and
war maps. ~ 1t was said .Kutzer had
repeatedly refused to take, the oath, of
neutrality, offered officers and civil
ans from German possessions after
their capture by the British Kutzer
was popular with the German reserves
"
peafed. to. be, we'll provided with
money. More than 500 was found in
his clothing. 1t is believed that he
intended to leave his hiding place
soon after the Son9ina had cleared the
Australian headlands, and offer pas
sage money to the United States.
The Sonon1a, was favored by fine
weather for the greater part of the
trip from Sydney to Honolulu. Off
GERS say the embargo on the exporta-
ticn of meat to Hawaii is still being
threatened. The commonwealth au-
thorities profess to- be satisfied; with
the present arrangement, which pro-
yides for the shipment of a small
amount of beef If they are assured
that 1t is to be used by the United
States army. The. expectation of wool
and hides is carefully guarded: The
Soncma brought a large quantity of
onions and fertilizer to the islands
Meat for the local army quartermaster
department totaled 1899 quarters. J
The Sonoma came to berth at Pier
10 at o'clock Four cabin, two Sec
1nd class and one steerage passenger
will remain at Honolulu. The through
include ~ cabin, 55 sec.
ond class and % steerage. The yes
sci is carrying a big, through cargo OF
Australian products. C. Brewer & Co.
announce the Sonohia will carry no
mail from the local postoffice. All
correspondence enclosed III stamped :
envelopes and left at the office of
the agents will be forwarded to the s
coast. -
The Sonoma is scheduled to steam
10 San Francisco at 5. o'clock this
evening About so passengers win
Icin the vessel at this, port. sr'',.G H. /