The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1915-04-07
VAR SHIP ON GUARD
BATTLESBIP ALABAMA At an
CHOR In NEWPORT news
PRINz EITEL AT DOCK

Reports That Merchantmen Have
Been Supplying Allied Warships
With Coal Are Denied-Need Of
Battleship Protection is Now Evi-
dent.
Enforcement Of neutrality Of the
United States in the port Of Norfolk
and Newport News, was the subject
Of protracted conference at the Nor
folk navy yard late Tuesday follow
ing the arrival in Hampton Roads Of
the battleship Alabama, which took
| a commanding position in the chan
mel to the sea, and remained there,
taking on ammunition and supplies.
Participating in the conference
were Rear Admiral Beatty, COM
| mander Of the Norfolk navy yard,
Rear Admiral Helm, commander Of
| the reserve Atlantic feet, who arriV-
ed On the Alabama, and Norman r.
Hamilton, collector Of customs for
the port.
While the conference at the navy
yard was in progress Capt. Max
Thierichens, commander of the Ger
man converted cruiser Prinz Eitel
Friedrich, still in dock at Newport
News, was closeted with customs Off
cials in the Newport News cmce. At
the conclusion OF the conference at
the Norfolk navy yard, government
officials refused to discuss matters
| with which it dealt
| Primarily, it was learned, the Ala
bama came to Hampton Roads to
guard the neutrality interests Of the
| United States between German
man-of-war within an American port
and a. feet Of warships Of the Euro
pean allies, which is reported hover,
ling of the Virginia Capes. That the
situation thus presented demanded
the presence of an Amel can warshfp
was generally admitted.
1 Reports that allied warships which
have been of the capes since the Ger
man commerce raider arrived at
Newport News and ventured within
the three-mile limit and that mer-
chant ships had furnished them with
supplies had been circulated at New
port News for several days before the
sending Of the Alabama. AS to mer-
chant ships, 1t was said that they
had taken deckloads of, coal after
filing their bunkers and taking on
other cargo.
| "I have investigated thoroughly
one case in which a merchant ship
was reported to have taken coal to a
foreign warship of the capes and
found 1t not true" said Collector
Hamilton. ''This ship may have de-
'ivered to vessels at sea coal which
she took on board at some English
port, later arrived at Newport News
and departed with a full cargo OF
grain. She took from here 800 tons,
Of coal, merely enough for ships use.
portion Of this may have been plae-
ed on her decks, this for the reason
only, however, that the ship desired
all space 3or cargo purposes"
| Henry B. Holmes, agent of British
shipping interests, declared that he
had absolute knowledge that no mer-
chant ship had taken fuel OR supplies
to any of the warships. Taking deck
loads Of coal, Mr.. Holmes said, was
necessary on account Of extra heavy
eargoes carried for foreign ports.
| Commander Thierichens would not
talk about his visit to the customs
officials. He returned late in the
afternoon to the Eitel Friedrich,
which is still moored to her dock in
the shipyards. In official quarters
the opinion still prevails that the
German raider will force the United
1 80 %o<- - Sptn he, hT1$
there are many who have associated
with officers and men of the ship who
say that she will put to sea and take
a chance on escaping the blockade OF
the allies when served with notice to
depart.
Allied merchant ships continue to
depart from this rort almost daily.
One which cleared Tuesday was the
Belgian steamer Iris. In this con-
nection officials pointed out that the
successive departure Of merchant
ships Of enemy belligerents could not
indefinitely postpone departure Of the
Prinz Eitel after beng served with
notice that time for repairing in
| American waters had expired.
They pointed to a clause, which
after stating that belligerent var
ship can not leave neutral port for
twenty-fouT hours after departure OF
the merchant ship of an enemy, says:
mo ship OF war O.. Irivateer Of bel
ligerent shall be detained in any port,
harbor, roadstead or waters Of the
| United States, more than twenty-four
hours by reason Of the successive de-
partures from such port. harbor,
roadstead or waters Of the United
States of more than one vessel Of an
opposing belhgerent.'
Authorities are stolidly silent as to
circumstances which actuated the
government in sending warship to
| Newport News, but that that purpose
was not to protect the Prinz Eitel
Friedrich within the three-mile limit
of the American coast. as had been
suggested, now seems apparent. The
German sea raider, in all probability,
| will be interned in this port before
many days, although persons who
have talked with officers Of the Eitel
| declare they are ready to brave the
| dangers of dash for liberty.
Just when the government has de-
termined that time expires for the
Eitel to make repairs still remains
mystery. When that time arrives,
however, opinion is prevalent that
her ensign will te hauled down, her
guns dismantled and ship md crew
;nterned under terms Of The Hague
convention governing neutral nations
in naval warfare.
Capt Thierichens, commander Of
the German raider, 1t is insisted, had
hoped to have his ship taken to New
York within the three-mile limit OF
the American coast before time for
internment arrived. Overtures had
been made to Washington authorities
in this regard and protection against
warships Of the allies lurking OF the
coast had been asked. Marine
authorities, however, Informed the
"a