The Sentinel=record., 1915-04-08
Assistance That WasiLooked for by the Commander of the Prinz Eitel
 Fails to Arrive.
Up to the Very Last Preparations Were Made for the Vessel to Go to Sea---German War ships and Auxiaries Are Said to Have
 Been Expected Before Time Expired.

Newport News. Va, April 7.-dlx- pected naval relief failing him-the nature of which he would not dis close-Captain Max Thierichens, con- mander of the German merchant raider Prinz Eitel Friedrich, tonight reluctantly decided to interne his ship and crew
 Commander Thierchens notified the Washington government through Collector of Customs Hamilton short ly after o'clock of his decision to interne rather than deliver crew and ship to fruitless and certain destruc- tion' by British and French warships waiting off the Virginia capes.
 The German captain delivered his announcement in writing when Col lector Hamilton boarded the Eitel Friedrich with an imperative notice from the Washington government that the time for his stay in this port would expire at midnight tonight and that he must leave American waters by 1 o'clock tomorrow morning. Be. AOlt AlAt tuSAOilo tOllttiOI EOul0 ut liver the message. Commander Thie richens handed to him the written announcement of his decision. The letter follows:
 "I inform you I intend to interr S NJ. $. Prinz Eitel Friedrich. Ths relief l expected appear not to ar rive iii time so the number and force of the enemy cruisers watching tho entrance of the bay makes to me i'm possible the dash for the open seq with any hope of success.
 'I have decided not to deliver crew and ship to fruitless and certain de struction. Being obliged for the cour tesy shown by all United States au, thorities, l am expecting your orders nave sent the same information to Rear Admiral Helm. U. S. s. Alabama Respectfully, (Signed) "THIERICHENS." Determination of the German com, mander to intern immediately oper- ated to lift the American embargo against merchant ships of allied Eu. ropean nations leaving this port More than a score of British mer. chant vessels which had been cleared but held up, were immediately per mitted to leave port, and customs houses at Newport News and Norfolk were kept open until t0:30 o'clock to. night issuing clearances.
 Actual internment of the PrinZ Eitel would be accomplished tomor- row and the sea raider taken to the Norfolk navy yard at Portsmouth. Va. There breech blocks of her guns will be removed and connecting rods of her engines detached.
 While Collector Hamilton read the announcement which he immediately transmitted to Assistant Secretary of the Treasury Peters at Washington, there was spirit of gloom pervading the commanders cabin. which spread all over the ship. Officers and crew appeared downcast. Commander Thierichens himself declared that he was heartbroken. Unofficially he stated that he had never intended to intern if it were possible to prevent it; that he had hoped for the arr.val of German forces to do battle with the British and French warships of the American coast and thus clear the way for his return to the open sea.
 'I would like to have gone to sea myself" Commander Thierichens de clared. q would not hesitate to gC but I had to think first of my men" The decision of Commader Thie richens to intern came at the close o day filled with mysterious develop ments.
 Up to the last few hours of grace the German captain had not said { word to Washington officials abou internment. He had coaled and pro visioned his ship. Repairs to he boilers had been made and everything was prepared for a dash to sea. German warships and auxiliarie had been expected to arrive to ait the Eitel, but just what were thu | plans which did not materialze coul' not be learned. The commander i
 said to have declared, however, tha
 the reported approach of the German cruiser Won der Tam with subma | rines was not a part of the plans o
 the German government for his relief The decision of the Washington l government as to the length of tim,