The Washington times., 1915-03-11

status.
II the Eitel Frederick elects to pat to
sea after coaling and provisioning. the
officers and crews Of the threo British.
three French. and One Russian ships
captured bv the German vessel during
its raid will remain prisoners. II the
German vessel internes. however, and
Government officials think this decision
will be reached. all captured officers
ana crews will be released, as Assistant
termed vessel could not hold prisoners
on American SOIL
The ownership OF the cargo OF wheat
was established today. when the Treas
ury Department was advised that NJ. H.
Houser. Of Portland. Ore. was the
signed to Houser's order In Queens
town.
No u. 8. Insurance.
There was no Government insurance
on the cargo. but the Treasury war
risk bureau carried $l1,55 insurance on
the hull of the Frye.
Commissioner of immigration Cami-
netb notified immigration Inspector W.
r. Morton. ut Norfolk. to find acco,nno-
dations for the immigrant passensera-
and to place them under supervision of
his office temporarily until decision was
reached as to the disposition to be male
Of them.
Most Of the Immigrants Here destined
to South American ports. Collector Of
Customs Hamilton reported that consuls
Of various foreign governments had ar
rived 1t Newport News to arrange for
the transportation OF their nationals to
points OF destination.
Takes Testimony.
Collector Hamilton reported that he
had opened his investigation Of the
sinking Of the Brye by taking testimony
Of Captain Kiehne and tho crew. The
officers Of the German vessel. he said.
would not be question, as their report
was expected to be made to the Ger
man embassy.
From evidence already obtained by
Treasury officials. Assistant Secretary
Peters is Of the opinion tnat the Ger
his claim Of justification for sinking the
Frye on the ground that it's wheat cargo
was contraband. Wheat Is not contra
band. Assistant Secretary Peters said.
unless destined for the use Of q belliser-
ent army. The cargo carried by the
Frye was destined to the order Of the
owner at Queenstown. an dcould not be
considered contraband. In the view OF
this Government.
!. rsc.in,n we code s mes,a~e, Se s,no.t Hour.
~ from London. He refused to discuss
the situation, but was said to have
secured from the customs authorities a
full list of the ships sunk by the Ger
man cruiser. and to have reported 1t to
his government.
The impression is that the English
would represent 1t would be an unfriend-
ly act for America to permit the Eitel tel
exhausted repair and return to sea to
resume destruction Of British vessels.
Eitel Boarded Again.
Customs authorities again boarded the
Eitel today and conferred with the cap
tain under conditions Of the strictest
secrecy.
The neutrality board. to which va
rious phases OF the Iitel Friederich's
cases were referred yesterday. has
psrtment. 'rhc boards views. how :
ever. were not made public. They
were turned over to Counselor Lam
ment on them further than that he
had not had time fully to consider
them.
neutrality board rs not stated. But
it Is believed that it was not. The
problems put up to the neutrality
board concerned the disposition OF
the allowing Of time for repairs. and
An Interesting phase of the Eitel
Friedrich case is the feeling Of ad-
and crew OF the vessel among navy
officers.
Extraordinary Work.
They do not hesitate to admit that the
Eitel FREDERICK. in escaping from
Tsingtao. In remaining at large seven
months. cluding the scores of British
and Japanese naval craft. and in sink.
ing or capturing large numbers OF
merchant vessels. performed an extra
ordinary piece Of work.
In some respects. the career Of the
Htel Friedrich. as viewed by navy
officers, is entitled to rank with thai
OF the Fmden.
to the captain Of the Eitel Frederick
that he will go to sea and take one more
chance. It Is recognized here that this
would be great risk. and 1t is not be
take to sea again to almost sure de-
struction. She will be Of value Sfter
the war.
Secretary Daniels said he had not re.
Beatty, at SorfoIk. asking for a de'
stroyer to aid in preserving neutrality
but did not deny that one might be or
its way. 1t was generally considered
likely that request Of the kind woulc
be made.
Daniels stated that he considered the
situation too delicate for him to make
the formal announcement of the expira
ton Of the initial twenty -four-hour pc
riod of the Eitel's stay at Newport
News
Issue of Consignment.
The declaration Of London says tina
II more than one-half neutral ship!
cargo Is contraband she may be sunl
II to take her to port meant scrioui
risk to her captor. Commander Theri
Chens claimed that the cargo was con
signed to England FOR ORDERS" anc
plainly meant for the British govern
ment.
Captain Kiehne Of the Frye denie
this and declares that his manifest wa
the usual one for wheat-carrying craft
The ship was insured for $ll.500 in th'
Government War Risk Bureau.
Collector Hamilton. under orders from
Washington. has told Commander Thier
ichen that he will be permitted to maxi
only such repairs as will make his shil
seaworthy.
The captains of all Of the vessels dc
stroycd by the ,ierman sea raider hlV
reported to their respective consuls al
Norfolk and Newport News. But. .
lar AZ they are concerned. the Germa
cruiser was within its rights in sinkin