The Washington times., 1916-02-02


he saws he talked with Captain Har-
rlson. her former commander. His story
is the only ono so far from which any
details OF the capture OF the Appam
might be CLEANED. Pilot Foster quotes
Captain Harrison as saying:
1T was a bright. clear daN when We
we're captured: we were Ihoving along
at fair rate Of speed VIXEN suddenly
In the distance saw what appeared
to be an ordinary tramp steamer.
Gradually she came closer We did not
fear her and continued ahead with no
attempt to escape nor without making
preparations to combat her. as we GER
tainly expected no attack. Suddenly the
tramp fired shot from small gun
across our bows. immediatci hove.
AS l did the false forecastle head. made
apparently OF canvas or some other
flimsy material fell away and revealed
battery OF huge guns. 1t Immediately
was apparent that resistance was use
less. so We surrendered without offering
resistance"
Disarmed the Crew.
The next chapter of Fosters version
Of Harrison's narrative as 10 how the
small crew of Germans piloted the Ap-
pam successfully across the width OF
the Atlantic and kept the ,Appam crew
ana passenEsrs nma II, subsection was
Once aboard the Appan,. Foster
quoted Harrison as continuing. the
Ger man prize crew. under the, protec-
ton Of the battery ct guns .Cf tn. raid
or, Immediately disnrm.d the Appd1n
crew and locked them in various cab
ms. A similar precaution was taken
with the passengers. In the course OF
who were b einG taken TO ENGLAND were
discoy cred. They were liberated that
they might assist the crew In taking
charge of the liner.
from various vessels sunk by tho Ger
mans theE were placed aboard the Ap-
nam. When tie race for Hampton
Rcads started number OF the prize
for the purpose Lr ,ecriving all Ires-
sagcs. but to send none.
BY this method the whereaDnuts OF
the British cruisers patrolling the reg
Lieutenant Bcrsc. who steered fer out
of reach or them The crew and ras-
senCeIS Of the captured vessel were
given daily eNercise. l.ut only in small
easy for the few Ccimans to control
several hundred cantircs.
Arrange For Transfer.
immigration Inspector Morton went
aboard the Appam this morning to line
up the various crews and arrange for
their transfer to shore, with such pas
sengers as are found entitled to liberia
tion. He said seventy-siN of those
aboard are without funds. The British
vice consul is arranging to return the
Passengers and crews to England on
board British ships in the harbor.
Lieutenant Perec, commander Of the
German prize crew, has appointments 3
today with Collector Hamilton and Ger
man Consul Schilling TO prepare for-
NAL statement regarding the German
claims to hold the vessel
Prince Hatzfelt, counselor OF the Ger
man embassy, arrived at OlP Point Com
fort on this mornings boat from Wash
inRton to take charge Of the German In
terests.
with the German naval ensign still
flying at her stern, the Appams an
chorase. Just off Old Point Comfort
in the roadstead of Hampton Roads.
and only a quarter mile away from the
huge battery Of Fortress Monroe. re-
manned unchanged today. She was the
center of a fleet Of harbor craft who
vainly sought to shout conversations
with the few passengers who lined the
rails, braving the rain which swept the
harbor this morning
Wild rumors are in circulation today
regarding the exploits of the mystery
ship Moewe One report is that she wHs
one of a quartet Of new German COM
merce raiders. Another report. given
little credence and apparently un-
founded is that the Appam was con
Noyed almost TO the Virginia capes by
The veil OF mystery regarding the ex-
ploits Of the Moewe is but slightly lifted
today. Even to the American authori-
ties Lieutenant Berg Ia refusing all but
the most necessary information. When
the passengers of the Appam and the
officers and crews OF the seven British
steamships sunk by the Moewe and
tranferred to the Appam are landed.
the full tory OF tn" new German sea
terror is expected to be learned.
n
Following Lieutenant BerEe's con-
ference late Yesterday with Collector
Of Customs Hamilton. the port official
declared that pending decision from
Washington as to the status OF the
-\ppam since she entered United
States waters. the Appam must re-
main where she now Is. He said that
none cf her company save her captain
and the Appam's original commander
Will he permitted shore and no visit
orss wouli he allowed to board her.
collector Hamilton's full report will
lie in the hands OF Treasury officials
today. Captain Harrison. original
commander of the Appam. Went
ashore with the British vice consul at
!iaInpton aud went Immediately to the
british Consul's office in Norfolk
whore he filed sealed report. The
report was sent at once 10 the Treas
Although Collector Hamilton refused
to discuss the matters touched upon
in his conference with the German
commander, II is reported that COM
prehensive account of the Circum-
stances which led TO the Appam's voy-
age was one OF the results.
lieutenant Berge. it is said, made
plain that he regards the Appam only
IN the light Of a prize of war, offcered
by a rrize crew.
The pot from which she originally
cleared and the source and size of her
armament he carefully concealed. lie
volunteered. however, that before his
connection with the Moere. he had
been prosaic merchant skipper.
The Appam. full to her matches witt
the valuable products of the African OF
coast fell an easy prey to the gun:
Of the MCewC, and. being Il new craft
with plenty of cabin and deck space
offered a solution to the problem con
fronting them in the hundreds of pris
oners.
Accordingly. in the gray sea dawn o.
January Il. boats ratified down the falls
OF the Moewe and the transfer Of pris
oners from the commerce destroyer Il
her latest prize began on that bleal
stretch OF ocean that had during thu
nast two months. heard the death knell!
Of six proud British merchant hullS
All Of that morning the boats PLACED
back and forth between the captor ant
her prize. Bv noon the transfer wal
complete. and the Appam stood OFF OF