The Sentinel=record., 1915-04-01
DESTINY KEPT IN MYSTERY
States Officials Are in lgnor- .$e of the Anticipated Movement v Eitel, For Which Five Cruisers Are Awaiting Like Hawks.

Newport News, Va. March 3l.-Un- der supervision of the United States navy the German merchant raider Prinz Elite Friedrich tonight is fl- ing her bunkers with coal
 Sixteen hundred tons were dellv- cred alongside on barecs late in the day and the crew immediately began transferring the coal to the cruiser.
 When the barges arrived at the ship yard where the Eitel Friedrich is moored, orders were at once gwen to bar all approaches for the night
 Captain Thierichens requested the Washington government to furnish patrol for the pier which his ship oc- cupies, and marines were sent from the Norfolk navy yard for this duty Approach to the pier from the rlver as well as from land entrances 10 the yard were effectively barred.
 Particular orders were issued by officials of the snip yard 10 permit no newspaper men to enter the plant Efforts 10 gain admission even be fore dark were unavailing. Attempts to get near the pier by aunch in the eg,sassszes river also were frustrated. SA~ oaling the ship was begun about | o'clock in the afternoon As the first sacks were hosted from the barges the ships band struck up German national air, and at frequent intervals until a late hour the sailors labored to patriotic musical accom- paniment
 At the rate the ship was being coaled it was estimated that the sup Wly allowed by the American govern ment would be in the vessels bunk CTS before morning.
 Permission was given Commander Thierichens to coal. after confer ence in Norfolk ate yesterday at tended by Rear Admiral Beatty, com mandant of the Norfolk navy yard Rear Admiral Helm. commander of the reserve Atlantic fleet, whose flag ship, the Alabama guards Hampton Roads tonight, and Norman R. Ham iton, collector of customs for this port
 Collector Hamilton came here from Norfolk just before the coal barges arrived and sent an official message to Commander Thierichena The collector returned to Norfolk to- night but will be here again tomor TOW
 What Commander Thjerchens pro poses 10 do still remains a mystery The coal he was permitted to take aboard was measured by United States naval officers on the basis that it would be sufficient to supply the ship in a run to the nearest Ger man port. Bremen was the pot which figured in the official navy apportionment
 Many rnmors were circUa,ed as to the future course of the Eitels com mander. A report given credence to- had asked for a pilot. Another re- port was that ne wished to have his snip piloted to the Norfolk navy yard to he interned
 lt also was reported that he pTo- posed before many days to make a dash for sea in daring attempt to run 'he blockade of British and Trench warships off the Virginia Capes.
 Why he should desire ao much fuel if ne intends to interne his ship was explained in one source on the ! FgroNQd that he wished 10 make 1t ap. fpear up to the very last minute that he intends to depart, in order to hold the allies warships off the capes
 That the Eite would make no at tempt to leave her dock tonight was generally conceded In fact she would not be permitted to depart be- vcause several British merchant ships icleared Newport News today Under Ineutrality regulations. therefore. the Eitel could not leave port until late tomorrow.
 Washington authorities are known l to be thoroughly aware of the inten- ions of the Eite's commander Information from the ship itself is variable. One man who has paid ire.