Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-03-12
SEA RAIDER IN DRY DOCK
At NEWPORT NEWS YARDS
American Naval Authorities VIII
Pass on Repairs Which Must
BE Made.
GERMAN MAKES STATEMENT
Commander Tells Why He Destroyed
Sailing Vessel, and Explains
Length Of Time He Will Need for
Repnirs-Does Not Want to Intern.

NEWPORT NEWS, VA, March IL
Commander Thierichens. OF the con-
verted cruiser Prinz Eitel Friedrich
which late to-day went into dry dock
for repairs. submitted two statements
in German tonight to Collector of Gus
toms Hamilton, of this port. One
stated his reasons for sinking In South
Atlantic waters January IS last the
American sailing ship William p. Frye,
with her cargo of $500 tons OF wheat
consigned to Queenstown. The other
related to the length of time that will
be required to repair his ship.
Collector Hamilton announced that
he regarded the answers of the Ger
man commander as state papers, and
that he would forward them to Wash
ington- 1t was learned. however. that
the commander of the German shin
frankly has stated to American gov
ernment officials that he sunk the
American ship Frye because he re-
garded her cargo as contraband of
war.
In the communication relating to the
repairs necessary on the EItel Fried
rich, II was believed the German com
mander stated that the vessel could be
made seaworthy within few days, or
week ut most. Whether he stated
In the communication that he wished
to depart as soon as American naval
authorities could pass on repairs that
are TO be made was not disclosed The
German commander previously made it
clear however. that 1t was not his In
tention to intern his ship.
SHIP BADLY CRIPPLED
WHEN PORT Is REACHED
AS TO the condition of the Eitel
Friedrich. II was reported that.
whereas she had been making eighteen
knots an hour at the beginning of her
historic career of wrccking merchant
bcliigerents In two oceans. she scarcely
dared make twelve when she reached
American waters early Wednesday
morning
After the German cruiser went into
dry dock tonight, she discharged the
crews Of British, French and Russian
ships she had sunk. having released
the American crew in the afternoon.
Ihe French crews left late tonight on
the Old Dominion Line for New YorI,
y Few Russians went with them. The
british crews plan TO return to Eng
horses from this port
Commander Thierichcns assured of
hcials here that neither he officers nor
men OF the Eitcl Friedrich would set
foot on American soil except on Of
hciai business. He made this state
ment to Collector Hamilton, after stat
ing that 1t was his intention not to
intern his ship
In the Newport News Shipyard to-
night the released sailors of British
ships. after receiving their kits.
marched TO street cars singing Its n
Long, Long Way to Tippcrary"
The Eitel Friedrich herself steamed
into the Newport News shipyard and
went into dry dock, where experts be-
gan an examination OF her condition.
Held on board were seventy-hvc third
class passengers OF the French steamer
Florida. refused admission by immigra-
tion inspectors on the ground of in
eligibility. Consuls OF these passen-
gers Will arrange as soon as possible
Tor their departure to Ellis Island
N. Y. and for their deportation.
MAKE SWORN STATEMENTS
OF SHIPS DESTRUCTION
When the members OF the crew OF
the American ship Frye had been
landed they were taekn to the custom
Continued on Second Page.)