New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-03-12
u. S. WILL MAKE
STRONG PROTEST
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months ago and took all the coal and
provisions that the Sacramento had
on board. The Sacramento before be-
ing transferred to American registry
was the Alexandria, of the Hamburg
American Line. Whether or not the
Prinz Eitel Friedrich was engaged in
the fight of the South American coast
in which Admiral Won Specs squadron
was DESTROYED could not be learned.
Word was received at the Navy De-
partment to-day that the wireless room
of the German warship ha ben sealed
by American naval officers at Newport
News.
Crew Will BE Kept Together.
The Treasury Department. acting un-
der the direction OF the Department OF
State. took ever precaution to-day to
secure all the evidence which Will bear
on the chara ,ter of the cargo of the
Frye To th end steps were taken to
prevent the members of the rescued
crew of the American vessel from scat
tering until they have told all That is TO
be known concerning the cargo OF the
vessel, its movements and the clrcum-
stances under which it was seized and
DESTROYED. Il is expected that Captain
Kiehnc. master Of the destroyed vessel,
will come to Washington himself TO
confer with the officials OF the Treas
ury Department as soon as he mas
looked after the welfare of the mem
bers Of his crew.
In this connection it was learned at
the Treasury Department to-day that
the commander of the Prinz E!tel
F .edrich still retains the SHIPS
papers of the Frye and has refused 70
surrender them to the United states
officials. Whether or not he is exceed
ing his authority By so doing is ques-
tionablr matter.
Frye's Insurance To Be Paid.
The War Risk Bureau will follow
it's usual custom in the case OF the
loss of the Frye and will pay the IN
surance of 81 $50 upon the hull with
in thirty days on submission OF proof
Of loss, in accordance with the terms
of the policy issued. The policy also
requires that mo conditional contra
band will be loaded when the articles
constituting such conditional contra
band are destined for the use of the
armed forces or of a government de-
partment of a belligerent state Al
though there is little doubt in the
minds Of any of the Treasury officials
that the cargo of the Frye could be
considered contraband in any sense
the determination of this fact VIII de-
pend on the outcome OF the investl-
cation now being conducted.
Internment of the Prinz Eitel Fried
rich at Newport News is practically
certain, according TO the opinion IN
the highest official circles Of both the
State and Navy departments. 1t has
been pointed out that with several
weeks of repairs necessary, as linden
nitelv estimated by the American naval
officers who have surveyed the ship,
the chances of her escape from Chesa-
peake Bay after she has been retitted
for sea are practically nil. Already
Great Britain has powerful cruisers on
the wav 70 the Capes of Virginia, II
even now one or more of them are not
patrolling the waters just ofshore.
Ambassador at Navy Department.
II was with this thought in mind
that Sir Cecil Spring Rice. the British
Ambassador, called at the Navy De
partment to-day to seek information,
and incidentally to explain to Rear Ad-
miral Bradley A. Fiske, aid for opera
tions, that the British government was
DESTROYS that the United States gov
eminent indicate to the commander of
the Prinz Eitel Friedrich that in TAX
ing her departure from American
waters she should leave behind all
members Of her present ships com
pany other than the German officers,
sailormen and merchant sailors who
are subjects Of the Kaiser. The Am
bassador explained that Great Britain
was particularly DESTROYS of shedding
no innocent blood when her cruisers
! take reprisals for the destructive ac-
/ tivities of the Prinz Eitel Friedrich
while on her 55,000-mile journey about
+ the seas.
/ The neutrality board has furnished
/ Counsellor Lansing with complete re-
/ port of its findings, on which, if he de-
i sires, he may base the opinion of the
/ United States government. The coun-
/ sellor is not obligated to accept the
findings of the neutrality board as in
/ anywise final. The function of the
/ board is to investigate and report on
/ the application of international and
neutrality laws with regard to ques-
tions of the character Of the present
one as may arise. Its functions are
purely advisory in character, and il
was created as an agency of con-
venience and not of authority.