The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-11
SINKING OF SHIP HAS APPEARANCE ]. OF UNFR|ENDLY ACT Complications With Ger many May Result From Vim. P. Frye Incident MATTER WILL BE
 PROBED TO BOTTOM Ship Sunk by German Cruiser Was Engaged in Neutral Trade and
 on Legitimate voyage-With-
 hold Comment

Washington March 1O.-Arrival of the German converted cruiser Prirx
 EiteI Friedrich at Newport News. with the announcement that during her six months' rsidinE as Q commerce raider, she hnd sent tc the bottom one Amer ican owned vessel which flew the flag of the United States. profoundly stirred official Washington.
 In the absence of a detailed story of the sinking of the American ship the William P. Frye, off the coast of South America, judgment was withheld, but there was no attempt to deny the serious ness of the incident, and it was conceded that on its face 1t bore the appearance of an unfriendly act on the part of a German ship of war which must result in diplomatic negotiations with the German government.
 Such information as had come to off cial ears tonight from Newport News was in substance that the Frye was blown up because the commander of the Eatel held her cargo of wheat to be contra band. It was pointed out that wheat is not contraband unless consigned to a bell ligerent or some agent of such govern ment The Fryes manifest showed her bound for Queenstown flor orders" Offi- cials explained that this declaration in the manifest was not unusual and added that circumstances so far pointed to the fact that the Frye, as vessel of a nen- tral nation engaged in legitimate voy- age, was not subject to seizure or de- struction.
 Thorough Probe Promised Every effort will pe made b5 fne state and treasury departments to get to the bottom of the case. The master, officers and crew of the Frye will appear tomor- row in Norfolk before Collector of Gus toms Hamilton and will be questioned at length about circumstances of the ships departure from Seattle last November and of her capture and destruction Facts gathered from these sources will be for warded to Washington, and. if necessary, the state department will conduct an in- quiry of it's own and will not undertake negotiations with Germany until its case is clear. Just what demands might be made upon Germany if the blowing up of the Frye were considered an unfriend- ly act, were not disclosed tonight. It was understood, however, that the United States proba ply would seek the usual honorable amends under international law as well as reparation for the owners The Prinz Eite undoubtedly will be in- termed in Hampton Roads unless her com mcrder Is willing to take a chance with the North Atlantic and the allies ships with her general condition far from sea- worthy.
 Collector Hamilton has served the cus- IT within "A hours or intern or give reasons for a longer stay which will be satisfac- tory to Washington. If her commander desires to make repairs additional time can be allowed, but in view of a pre- liminary report by experts who examined the cruiser today. that at least several months would be required to fit her for active sea service, 1t was generally be- lieved that the only course open for her is to intern and therefore no unusual pre- cautions were taken tonight to prevent her leaving American waters.
 Conditions on the cruiser with more than 300 survivors of the ships she has captured aboard. for weeks past wei 0 said tonight to be far from good and
 it is probable that all possible will be done to arrange for immediate removal of those on the ship. All males of bel ligerent nations aboard her not subject Co military service probably will be put in charge Of consular representatives of their respective countries. Most of the survivors were bound for South Ameri- can countries when captured and 1t was believed the consuls will have them trans ferred to New York and sent on to their original destinations If the Eitel interns all the survivors win be released auto- matically.
 Delicate Problems
 Delicate problems of international law requiring immediate decision arising out of the cruisers arrival were the subject of several conferences between state and navy department officials. Secretary Dan- iels received reports from Rear Admiral Beatty at the Norfolk navy yard. Assist ant Secretary Peters of the treasury de- partment on hearing from Collector Ham, I ilton, hurriedly went to the state depart (Contknued on Page Ten-s