The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-04-08
E|TEL FRIEDRICH,
AFTER BLUFF|NG A
MONTH, |NTERNS
German Commander Declares
Was Disappointed i'll Not
Receiving Assistance
Expected German
Warships to Rescue
Actual Process of Internment
Will Take Place Today Will
Probably Be Taken to Ports
mouth and Officers Paroled

Washington, April 7.--ASsistant
Secretary OF the Treasury Peters an
nounced tonight that the German
cruiser Prinz Eitel Friedrich would
inferno at Newport News, Va. The
ship will remain In the custody of
the United States until the end of the
war, in which Germany" Is now en-
gagged.
The period fixed by the government
neutrality board within which the
Eitei Friedrich should leave the ter
ritorial waters Of the United States,
unless she was to be interned, ex-
pired at midnight tonight. At s
o'clock Secretary Peters received a
report from Collector OF Customs
Hamilton. nj Norfolk. transmitting a
communication from Captain THE
rtchen, of the German ship, stating
his intention to inferno
The German captain disclosed for
the first time that he had expected
assistance from the other warships
of his government In order to make
II possible for him to dash for the
open sea with aome hope OF success.
In his communication he gave no de-
tails a sto the basis of his expectation
that assistance would be rendered him.
but it was inferred that he expected
German wsrships to divert the Brit
ish and French cruisers from their
patrol outside the Virginia capes so
us to permit the Etel to steam away
10 safety.
This disclosure recalled a report
published several days ago to the eff
| feet tina. the Karlsruhe was on her
| way to the Virginia capes to facilitate
I the departure OF the Eitel
/ Secretary Peters announced that the
/ Navy Department would lake charge
/ of the interment of the German war
ship. He said that no steps would
! he taken tonight with a view of put
| ting the ships engines out of COM
! mission.
Hears from the Captain.
The report from Collector of Gus
toms Hamilton gave no details OF hap
.penines at Newport News during the
day. but merely transmitted the COM
nunlcation he had received from Cap
tain Thierichen. Collector Hamilton
was instructed Immediately to suspend
the order for the refusal of clearance
| papers to ali outward bound mer-
chant ships of the Allies. This order
has been in effect since midnight Mon
day. Here is the communication from
I Captain Thierichen:
+ ITO Collector OF Customs;
| Sir inform you I intend to in
terne II. NJ. s. Prinz Eite1 Friedrich
I The relief | expected TO appear not
arrived in time, so the number of and
/ force Of the enemy cruisers watching
( the entrance OF the bay makes to me
/ impossible the dash for the open SEA
4 with any hope for success have
1 decided not to deliver crew and ship
/ TO this fruitless and certain des:ruc-
81 DIT Oh tsrnI fnr sIA los
/ shown by all United States authorities,
| l am expecting your orders l have
I sent the same Information to Rear Ad-
/ miral Helm. L. S. s. Alabama.
Respectfully.
4 "THIERICHENS,
"Commandant."
The action of the German captain
in interning the EiteI fulfilled the
expectations which Treasury Depart
ment officials have held since their
I first examination of the ship on her
appearance In Hampton Roads three
weeks ago. Oficials had believed all
along that because of the condition
Of the E,ters engines, as well as be-
cause of the strict guard being kept
by three English and French war
ships outside the eapes the German
government would decide to inferno
the ship for the war
There were no other developments
here today with reference to the
! Eitel beyond confirmation by treasury
officials of the report that orders had
BEEN issued for the withholding OF
clearance papers from allied mer-
/ chant ships in the harbor at Norfolk
1t was explained that this course was
made necessary by the provisions OF
international law that belligerent
warship should not be permitted to
leave a neutral port within twenty
four hours after the clearance OF an
enemy vessel. Officials said that while
no precedent In international law
( might be cited for this procedure am
Pile authority was furnished by tho
Joint resolution adopted March con-
ferring special powers upon the pres
/ ident for the enforcement of the
neutrality of the United States.
/ VIII Render Her Harmless.
| When the navy authorities take
charge OF the Prihz Eitel Friedrich.
! one of the first steps will be to render
| her incapable of going to sea or en-
gaging in a fight. Sufficient portions
of her machinery will be removed TO
make it impossible for her to move
| and her guns WIN be removed In all
probability. Her wireless apparatus
will be d.smantled. All parts of mech
CONTINUED On Gscond Paxa.l