Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-04-08
CRUISER |NTERNS
RATHER THAN DASH
IN FACE OF ENEMY
Odds Against Prinz Eitel
Friedrich Too Heavy for
Commander to Accept.
CERTAIN DESTRUCTION
WAS LURKING OFF CAPES
Expected Naval Aid Fails to Ar
rive, and No Other Course
Is Left Open.
GLOOM PERvADEs THE RAIDER
Until Very Last, Officers and Crew
Had Hoped to Make Break
to Open Sea.
GLOOM PERvADEs THE RAIDER
Until Very Last, Officers and Crew
Had Hoped to Make Break
to Open Sea.

NEWPORT NEWS, VA. April o.
Commander Max Thierichens. OF the
German auxiliary cruiser Prinz Eitel
Friedrich. asked the United States
government through port authorities
hero tonight to intern his ship and
crew for the war. Up to the last
moment the German skipper kept up
the appearance Of being ready for a
dash to sen, and when the time for
decision finally came. he explained that
failure Of expected relief to arrive
had made'it necessary to intern. rather
than deliver crew and ship to fruit
less and certain destruction by British
and French warships waiting off the
Virginia capes."
Tomorrow the commerce raider will
make her last cruise OF the war She
will be taken to the Norfolk Navy
Yard across Hampton Ronds from the
shlpyard here. where she has been
laid up since limping into port on
March 10. after the remarkable COM
merce destroying voyage from the
Orient, during which she sent the
American ship William Y. Frye to the
bottom.
Tho German captain delivered his
announcement In writing when Col
lector Hamilton boarded the Eltel
Friedrich with an imperative notice
from the Washington government that
tho time for his stay In this port
would expire at midnight to-nig,.t, and
that he must leave American waters
by o'clock on the morning of April
8. Before the customs collector had
chance to deliver the message from
Washington. Commander Thierichens
handed to him the written announce
ment of his decision.
EMBARGO AGAINST MERCHANT
VESSELS is LIFTED
Determination of the German COM
mander to intern his ship immedia tely
operated to lift the American embargo
against merchant ships of allied Euro
penn nations leaving this port.
Moro than a score Of British mer-
chant vessels. which had been cleared,
but held up. were Immediately per-
mitted to leave port, and the custom
houses at Newport News and Norfolk
were kept open until 1890 o'clock to-
night issuing clearances. Captains OF
British merchant ships clamored for
clenrances about the customs offices.
and scores Of ships were sailing for
the capes long before midnight.
Actual internment OF the Prinz Eitel,
1t was arranged in conferences be-
tween RearAdmlral Beatty. command
ant OF the Norfolk Navy Yard: Rear
Admiral Holm. Of the battleship
Alnbama, and Collector Hamilton,
would be accomplished tomorrow, the
sea raider to be taken to the Norfolk
NavyYard Mt Portsmouth. Va. to-
morrow. There breech blocks OF her
guns will be removed and the connect
Ing rods OF her engines will be de-
tached
Collector Hamilton received final In
structions from the Washington gov
ernment late to-day. When he reached
the Eitel Friedrich. he found Captain
Thierichens awaiting him. The Ger
man officer did not wait to hear the
message from Washington, but handed
to him sealed envelope containing his
announcement. The letter was as fol-
lows:
II inform you I intend to intern
S. M. S. Prinz Eitel Friedrich. The
relief 1 expected appear not to arrive
In time. so the number and force OF
the enemy cruisers watching the en-
trance OF the bay makes to me i'm
possible the dash for the open sea with
any hope Of success. I have decided
not to deliver crew and ship to fruit
less and certain destruction. Being
obliged for the courtesy shown by all
United States authorities. I am expect
ing your orders
II have sent the same information
to Rear Admiral Helm, U. S. S. Ala
bama.
Respectfully.
(Signed) "THIERICHENS."
SPIRIT OF DEPRESSION
SPREADS OVER CRUISER
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
tho commanders cabin which spread
all over the ship. Officers and crew
appeared to be downcast Commander
Thierichens himself. declared that the
action he had been forced to take made
him sick. that he was heartbroken to
be compelled to resort to such a step
Unofficially. he stated that he had
never intended to intern IL II were
possible to prevent 1t. that he had
hoped for the arrival OF German forces
to do battle with tho British and
French warships OFF the American
coast, and thus clear the way for his
return to the open sea.
II would like to have gone to sea
myself" Commander Thierichens de-
clared. Il would not hesitate to go.
but had to think f,rst OF my men"
Tho German commander was much
depressed as he delivered his message.
In fact. he said. the course he was COM
PEELED to pursue had much disturbed
his peace OF mind and strength OF body.
But he had boWed to tho inoyitahIa