The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1915-04-08
U. S. Official Says In
ternnentHasn't Been
Considered.
OTHERS ARE HELD
British Merchantmen Not Al
lowed to Leave Port
Where the Eitel Is.

New port News, Va.-SI,ort1y be-
fore three O'Clock the Eitel hoistcd
IA line of signal flags and blew her
| whistle. One shrilI blast was
sounded. Smoke was pouring from
both her tunnels.
Twenty-Five merchant ships flying
flags of the Allies, many of them
loaded with horses, are being held
up here today as they have refused
clearances pending developments in
the case of the Eitel.
Newport News, Waive are not
even thinking about the internment
of the Prinz Eitel Frederick now,'
declared Customs Collector Hamil-
ton today, after he had waited eS.
pectantly throughout the night for
the German cruiser to leave this port.
AS the collector spoke he was pre-
pairing TO again visit the ship on
orders from Washington, although he
had bade farewell to Commander
Thierichens and members of his
staff last night.
This declaration that the govern
ment is not at this time concerned
With the matter of the internment of
the Eitel, is the first authoritative
admission concerning the mysterious
negotiations relating to the ship in
many days. lnternment, the collec-
tor said, would be u simple process
| ii the occasion arises.
One indication that the Gitel had
not been interned early today was
the continuation of the ban of de-
parture OF merchant ships of the AL
| lies.
Custom officials here and at Nor
folk We're appealed to by British
captains for permission to leave. They
We're told they could not leave port
until further notice, and no assur-
ances We're given regarding when
| they might sail
The officers and men of the Eitel
are allowed no shore leave.
Time Nearing the End
Newport News, Va..-Last night
everything appeared to be in
readiness for the German auxili-
larry cruiser Prinz Eitel Friedrich to
leave the Newport News shipyards.
/. Collector of Customs Hamilton
who had visited the Eitel during the
evening, was given a jovial farewell
by the officers. The first officer in
vited him to stay aboard, saying. II
wish you would remain and go with
u.s.
/ Commander Thierichens, it was
learned, had bade farewell, to the
1 American government officials in his
visits today to the battleship Alaba-
ma and to the customs house. The
collector in turn wished the German
commander and his officers bon voy-
age.
At II O'Clock tonight Admiral
Beatty, commandant at the Norfolk
navy yard, transmitted a radiosram
to the customs house here. Collector
Hamilton remained in his office
awaiting developments. Attaches of
the office We're keeping in touch with
the German ship as closely as posi-
BILE. That no one knew exactly what
we're the plans of the German COM
mander seemed apparent.
| A newspaper boat which steamed
up the river. the only point from
which the raider could be seen, was
not picked up by the German cruls-
ers search light as had been the
case on previous occasions. Even
the naval tug boat Patuxent did not
fash her light until the dispatch
boat had passed. On board ship there
appeared to be activity, but there
we're few lights and the ports were
heavily curtained.
!. Last Day for Repairs.
The day for the German merchant
raider Prinz Eitel Friedrich to leave
neutral waters was declared yester-
day by the United States government
| Orders were given to pilots not 10
| take the merchant ship OF any bel
| |ligerent enemy of Germany out Oh
, Norfolk and Newport News until fur
ther notice. The order went into ell
! feet about II O'Clock yesterday, fol
r lowing a direction by British au-
thorities Monday night to British cap
e tains not to clear their ships after
=. noon of any day, while the Eltel
status remained in doubt
e The government S action served to
5 rouse the British authorities conslu-
!. ,erably. when appeals for lnforma
Etion as to when the plotting DaI
would be lifted met with no eXpiana'
tion. Although no official interpre
tation of the government order couie
T. be procured. it generally was under
stood that the time had expired whlci
ihad been allotted the Eltel for re
- nairs and that merchant ships;
> helligerents had been, detained /, A
II mort in order to extend a final per