The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1915-03-11
INCIDENT Is SERIOUS AND IN.
VESTIGATION WILL
BE THOROUGH.
Representations VIII BE Made to
Germany as Result Of Al
legged Unfriendly Act.

WASHINGTON. ID. G, March 10
The arrival OF the German converted
cruiser Prtnz Eitel Friedrich al New
port News with the announcement
mat during her four months securing
OF the seas as a commerce raider she
mad sent TO the bottom one vessel
which was American owned. and few
the nag OF the United States. pro-
toundly stirred Official Washington.
In the absence OF n detailed story OF
the sinking OF the American ship VIII
Ham j. Frye. on the coast OF South
America. Judgment was withheld. but
there was no attempt to deny the Sc
riousness OF the Incident. and II was
conceded that or its face II bore the
appearance of an unfriendly act upon
the part OF German ship OF war
which must result I'm diplomatic nego-
= tIations with the German government.
such information as had come to
Official ears tonight from Newport
News was In substance that the Frye
was blown up because the commander
Of the Eitel held her cargo OF wheat
20 be contraband. II was pointed out
that wheat * not contraband unless
consigned to belligerent govern
ment. or some agent OF such govern
ment. The Frye's manifest showed
her bound for Queenstown. for or
ders.' OfhciRls explained that this
declaration in the manifest was not
unusual, and added that circum-
stances 80 far pointed to the fact
that the Frye. as a vessel OF n neutral
nation engaged I'm a legitimate voy-
age, was not subject to seizure or de
struction.
Slft u TO Bottom.
Every EFFORT will be- made by the
state and treasury departments TO get
20 the bottom OF the case at once. Inc
master. officers and crew OF the Frye
will appear tomorrow in Norfolk be-
fore Collector u Customs Hamilton,
and will be questioned at length about
the circumstances OF the ships de
parture from Seattle last November
and OF her capture and destruction.
Facts gathered from these sources Will
be forwarded to Washington. and. II
necessary the state department Will
conduct an inquiry OF its own and Will
not undertake negotiations with Ger
many until its case Is clear.
Just what demands might be made
UPON Germany II the blowing up OF
the Frye were considered an unfriend-
iy act. were not disclosed tonight ~
was understood, however, that the
United States probably would seek
the usual honorable amends under in
ternational law as well as reparation
for the owners.
The Prinz Ethel undoubtedly will be
interned In Hampton Roads unless her
commander Is willing To take n chance
with the North Atlantic and allies
ships with a bottom fouled by six
months at sea. with her plates sprung
and her general condition far from
seaworthy
Must Sail or Intern.
Collector Hamilton has served the
customary notice that the Ethel must
sail within - hours or intern. or give
reasons for a longer stay which viii
be satisfactory 90 Washington.
n her commander desires 10 make
repairs. additional time can be allow
I'd. but In view OF preliminary re-
port by experts who examined the
cruiser today that ~ least several
months would be required 10 ~ her
FOR active sea service. 10 was general
ly believed that the only course open
is for her to intern and therefore no
unusual precautions were taken to-
might 10 prevent her leaving Ameri-
can waters.
Conditions on the cruiser with more
than 300 survivors Of the ships she
has captured aboard for weeks past.
we're said tonight 10 be far from good
and II H. probable that all possible
will be done 20 arrange for their i'm
mediate removal All males OF hei-
lEerent nations aboard her not sub
ject 10 military service probably will
be put In charge of consular repre-