Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1916-02-10
60 British Prisoners Climb over
the Liners Side to Liberty on
american SOil--Gcrman Prize
Crews Vigil Ended,
II. BERG BREAKS SILENCE
Tells The Reporters the Myster-
iOus Commerce Raider Is His
Majesty's Ship, the Moewe.
but No Further Information
Will Re Civ en- the World.

Se%porl iScNs, Va, Fec 3.-NlnctSh
duys Of ceaseioes vigil for the short
hnndcd German prize crow aboard thc
former British liner \ppam ended ii'e
tonight when tho last Of more thi4n 4p
british prisoners climbed over the ehip
side 10 liberty on Amcri, DIR soil. Md fof
III" first time since lieutenant Berg ana
his twcntv-tvo men boarded the line:
from the raider which captured her on
tho night of January l.. most OF the Ger
mans slept peacefully Wt.h but q lew Oh
their number on watch.
All British subjects and the one
Mathematical American. .. y. Tagliaierrl,
quit the ship leaving tn" prize com
mander with his crew and tn" twenty
Germans who had been prisoners on the
Nppam. including three women.
CAPTAIN Harrison and the Appam' 3
British crew left their vessel only after
a sharp controversy between agents Of
the owners Elder. Dempster & Co., and
the British embassy at Washington. The
company desired its men to remain on
the liner to support the claim that the
Germans forfeit their prize ny remaining
in neutral waters. l5ut The embassy in
sisted that every British subject depart
as soon as permission mad been granted
b~ the prize commando on the demand
Of tn" United States government.
PLANS CHANGED EVERY HOUR.
Plans were changed every hour during
tho afternoon and evening, but the en-
aassy's authority prevailed finally and a
special boat was provided To take the
Appams crow of LIS to Norfolk to avail,
tho sailing of a steamer for New York to.
morrow night. Meanwhile the ia passen'
rcra and the 1876 British seamen captured
with the other seven ships taken by the
raider Ponga or Mocwc, had been trans
fcrrcd ashore by steamers. Five of tho
scamcn. ono EnGlishman and four Las
cars of the crew of tho Clan MacIaNlsh
oil wounded were removed to "a hospit al
All the others with most Of the passcn
pors were plaCcd aboard river steamers
for Norfolk. An Old Dominion liner wa
being held at her dock to take them t,
New York.
Tho British gov ernmcn, s carinp, 70
all passcnccrs and crews ut the captured
rrcightcr and will send them on 10 Eng
land aboard the first available ship. TIL
Elder -Dempster company will arrang
for the return of the Appams crew.
LIEUTENANT BERG TALKS
Lieutenant Bcrc. commanding tho Ap
nam, talked for the first time to~nigh
Of his cruise, He ridiCued tho suggestiO
that his raider was the new fruit trade
ronEa, insisting that she was the Moew'
Vic confirmed the accounts OF the captur
- the seven English vessels and declare
hr had nothing to say regarding h!
ruturc plans
When asked how his crew felt nbOy
thcir enforced idloness, the leutenar
SQUARED his shoulders proudly.
An, my crew." he exclaimed. ''The
arc artists. They take their work as
comes"
\pooGizinc for any seeming brevit
in his remarks, the lieutenant said !
spoke as fully as he dared. owing to h
extraordinary position.
GIVES NO INFORMATION
II would be useless" he said, for n
10 repeat thc stories of the capture
the seven British crews by myself ar
my mon. The accounts that | have see
have been correct in almost every d
tail
As to the raider being either II
Fonga, or the Room, 7 say only this, al
never shall say more; My ship VIZ
IilS majesty MOeWe,
But is she the original MoeWe or
she another ship converted into Il WI
vessel, and given the name Of Il
M"cwe?" NJ was asked
Tile lioutauant appeared amused
the question: ana laurhingly replied:
Again | say 'it IL the Moewe'"
MOEWE STILL A MYSTERY.
And 10 many other intcrrogations
10 when the raider first was built, il s.
over was freight steamer, il plat
from tho old Moewe were placed on h
and other questions that have mystifi
he world since tho prize crew broug
the A7pam into port. the lieutenant on
rencItod; "Sne is the Moewc"
If the lieutenant has any immcdia
p'nns, he Is keeping them we'll to hi
self. Ha insists that at present he
lust waiting lie greeted with gratel
smiles the statement that various En-
ishmcn had complimented tho pr
crew on its treatment of them
said that he mad yet to hear of a
me being nlstreated.
Days and nights Of constant viglar
have told on the prize commander.
stead of getting rest as he had pla
ned when he came ashore tonight,
ncrvously paced a hotel corridor p
ing a cigar and blowing clouds Of smt
into the air until about 10 o'clock a
then hurried back to the Appam.
was dressed in civilian clothes and o.
q foW persons recognized him.