Evening star., 1915-11-24
Capt. FaIkenberg Tells How
German Warships Got Sup
plies From New York.
STEAMER BERWIND USED
UNDER AMERICAN FLAG
Witness for Government in Trial of
Hamburg-American Officials Re-
lates Movements of Ships.

NEW 1OKk, November a.
How the Hamburg-American line
succeeded in reaching German
warships in the Atlantic in
August and September, 1914,
with 1000 tons of coal and large
amounts of foodstuffs by means
Of the steamer Berwind, an
American boat under the Ameri-
can flag, was told today on the
witness stand by the Berwind's S
captain, Fritz Edward Falken-
berg.
Capt. Falkenberg was a government
witness in the trial of DR.. Karl Buenz,
George Kotter, Adolph Hochmeister
and Joseph Poppinghaus. all officials
of the Hamburg-American line, on trial
on charges of conspiracy to deceive
and defraud the United States.
The Berwind sailed from New York
at $3.50 at night, August 5, ostensibly
for Buenos Aires. with Poppinghaus as
supercargo and in charge. Taking up
Capt. Falkenberg's story there, her
movements were as follows:
Ordered to Steam Back and Forth.
First, Poppinghaus ordered him to
stay within the three-mile limit, after
leaving Sandy Hook, to avoid British
cruisers. but later instructed him to steer
for Cape Rogue. There he was told to
steam back and forth, as he might meet
German ships. For thirty-six hours the
Berwfnd did steam back and forth over a
sixty-nile course. and, finally. at 80
am. August %, sighted German feet
Of five ships.
The ships were the Cap Trafalgar, the
Pontas. the Eleanor Woermer, the santo
Lucia and the tiny German gunboat
Eber. The Cap Trafalgar hoisted
signal. "B. NJ" meaning come nearer"
after the Berwind, on Poppinghaus'
order. had hoisted the same letters.
Weather was stormy, the winds high
and the seas heavy, SO the Berwind,
unable to discharge her cargo, stayed
sixteen days with the German fleet
When the elements moderated she dis
charged her provisions. forty tons of
many kinds of foodstufrs. and much of
her coal to the Cap Trafalgar and the
Eleanor Woermer.
On September 10, or thereabouts.
only the Pontas and Cap Trafalgar, to
which the Berwind was still discharg-
ing. her cargo. Before leaving. however,
the Eber gave up her guns-two four
Cap Trafalgar.
Saw Fight With British.
On the morning of September IA, 1914,
Capt Falkenberg testified the Cap
Trafalgar and the Pontas were sur
prised by the British auxiliary cruiser
Carmania and another British boat
which came on fast. intending to give
battle The Germans turned to flee and
the Berwind, Weighing anchor, trailed
slowly behind. veering out of range.
The carmania gained fast" Capt.
steamed south about a mile, then turned
right about and faced the Carmania
They were about two and a half miles
apart.
THE Carmania fred the first shot and
then another one before the Cap Ira
falgar replied. They both then began
firing fast. The Pontas kept on her
way. leaving the Cap trafalgar to fight
alone. In half an hour both the Car
mania and the Cap Trafalgar were
badly afire. and in two hours the Cap
Trafalgar sunk"
Present of $500 for Services.
Poppinshaus was aboard the Eleanor
Woermer at this time, Capt. Falken-
berg testified. The Berwind later re-
joined the Eleanor Woermer, went to
Rio Janeiro, got a cargo and returned
home. She failed to reach Buenos Aires
the port for which she cleared, Capt.
Falkenberg said.
The government charged that the
Berwind was the only one of the six
teen boats chartered by the defendants
at cost of $4,000 900 to relieve Ger
man cruisers, which succeeded in her
errand. The others, it is believed, were
all captured before they reached the
Germans.
Capt. Falkenberg said George kotter,
| superintendent of the Hamburg Amer
lean line, made him a present of $500 in
| return for his services when the Ber-
wind got back to New York
Hasler Brothers Testify.
Frederick F.. HasIer. a steamship
broker, testified he chartered three
Norwegian steamers. the Thor, the
| Sommerslad and the Unita. to John H.
| Cans, no wdead. for the Hamburg
American line. This was at or about the
| beginning of the war. Cans told the
| witness, it was testified, that the Ham
burg American line wanted the vessels
to replace those in its West Indies
| service.
| These three steamers. the government
charges, were among the sixteen dis
| CONTINUED on Ninth Page.)