Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-04-12

Creighton. from Rosario for ST Vincent
with cargo OF wheat. Twenty sigh,
officers and crew. Sunk March o.
1918
British steamer Chasehnl. Captain
-. from Newport for Pernambuco
Robbed OF provisions and allowed 10
sail with 500 prisoners from kronprins
Wilhelm, February 22. 1915.
BRINGS STORY AS THRILLING
AS THAT OF PRISZ ETHEL
The second OF the raiders brought as
thrilling a story as did her predecessor.
the Prnz Eitel Friedrich Her record
OF destruction, however. was accom-
phshed with only four guns, two taken
from the German cruiser karlsruhe and
two captured later from the British
merchant steamer la Correntina, sunk
October :, 1914.
The most connected story OF the long
voyage from New York. 25S days in all,
during which the ship never touched
land, was told tonight by Over-I.ieu-
tenant Alb Wsrneke. the first officer,
who left New York harbor with the
ship.
I'VE left New York August 5, and put
out into the ereal bis ocean. sa'u
Lieutenant Warneke we were not
warship then, bu: three days out off
the Bcrmudas. We met the German
cruiser Karlsruhe. We took from her
two three-inch guns. which we mounted
on the bow OF the ship. and took Lieu
tenant Captain Thierfelder, her navi-
eating officer, TO command our ship. We
also took twelve OF the karlsruhe's
junior officers and men, took OF more
coal and provisions. and put 10 sea. We
made for the South Atlantic, and the
dark blue hut could only find this
ish steamer Indian Prince, which we
sunk September 4. 1914 From that time
on We remained on the big ocean, de-
stroying the enemy where We miSh, find
her. ] want 10 say that Sir Edward
Grey. the British Premier has been kind
TO us, and that If Great Britain had
been organized as we'll as We were TO
patrol the South Atlantic We never
gould have remained alive these many
/nonths. Sir Edward Grey sent us those
TWO big guns on our after deck. He
sent them 10 us on the British La Cor
rentina. on October :. When VIC got
those four-irch guns We felt pretty safe.
The La Correntina couldn't use her guns
because she didn't have any ammuni-
ton. We didn't give her battle be-
cause she was helpless. but after we
took the guns and what of her cargo
we wanted. we put some bombs into her
and down she went. We made ammuni-
ton for her guns on board ship. Some
Of the merchant ships we SUM! with our
own guns, some We blew up with bombs /
and in some cases we were compelled 10
ram the ships also.
SIN EDWARD GREY KIND
IN SENDING THEM COAL !
Sir Edward Grey was also kind TO us |
in sending us coal, for we took on hoard |
from enemy ships during our voyage !
more than 10000 tons"
In describing the vessel, Lieutenant
Warneke opened companion~ay to
what had once been the music room OF
the former New Nork-to- Bremen liner. .
In the deck had been cut two huge holes
leading TO the coal hunkers through
improrised chutes below. Through these
tive coal from the Wilhelms victims
taken aboard. and when bunkers
were filled on several occasions the coal
was piled in the cabins and OH deck.
I'VE were peculiar looking crowd
until France came TO our rescue with
the uniforms We wear, We made the
uniforms for All our merchant crew
from cloth which we captured from
the French steamship Guadloupe, Feb
rIary IS. The color is not exactly GER
man, but the cloth Is good. We wanted
dark blue but could only tnd this
gray hlae, and so We are strange
looking German sailor-men to day
From the Guadeloupc We also 20; shoes
leather and thousands OF dollars worth
Of things which We're, on their way
for the French army | tell YOU the
sinking OF the Guadloupe was bad
stroke for the French
CALLS TT WORST THING
AMERICA HAS DONE.
Lieutenant Warneke Was asked if the
kronprinz Wilhelm and not hoped to
get help from the German steamer
oden"uld which wnS held an hy tn,
United States at sam Juan, Porto Rico.
severa! weeks ago. i'c made no di-
rect reply to the question, but declared
That tho action on the part OF the
United States in DENYING clearance 10
Inc Odenwaid was the worst thing
America mad done"
why did You Americans not give
clearance Ia the OdcnWaldH' he asked
sharply We heard all about i; by
ON wireless. We didn't need any news
papers. We had good wireless nppa-
ratus ABOARD all the time, and Sir
Edward Grey kindly sent us several
ne" sets when we needed them Tile
denial Of clearance to the Odenwald
Vas the only bad thing America has
done. You simply held that ship up
in Porto Rico until the British ships
could come and ": TO catch us"
Lieutenant Warneke said that most
OF the 900 sailor. and Passengers talk
en FROM the BRITISH and other allied
ships were sent from time 10 time by
German ships 10 Swenos Aires Rio DE
Janelro, fernambuco and Santos.
Three hundred and SHY from the
French steamer Guadaloupe were sen,
ashore al Hernamhuco Several weeks
ago the oiiicer sad, the Kronprinz
Wilhelm was getting short Of coa! and
supplies, ana some OF her crew ana
her prisoners were afflicted with ne
riberi caused BY lack Of Vegetable
food. 1t had hoped to get supplies
from the German ship Macedonia which
was reported 10 have escaped from Las
Faimas several weeks previous
This vessel they learned however
had bee captured by British vessels
This hope gone, they steamed north
through the middle Of the Atlantic
ana were in touch with events trans.
pirirg regarding the prinz EItcl Fried
rich. u was reported tonight mat
the Original destination Was New
York, but that warnings were given
no, 20 attempt TO make til" port,
AWAITS FAN OFF poNT
UNTIL EiIisI. iNTERNs
Althou officers would no, admit
II, tho Wilhelm is DECLARED 10 have
been waiting far out in the ocean of