The Washington times., 1916-02-03

british prisoners, and arrange for their
transportation when released.
Collector hamilton th"rcupon suE-
Eested a conference ashore, and to per-
mt this Prince Won llatItcldt. Couu-
selor of tho German embassy, gave per-
mission for tho Immediate rcleas" OF
the governor. three high British Coloni-
al officials. together with the captains
of all the ships captured by the Moowc,
except Captain Harrison. original com
mander of the Appam, who, with his
crew. the Germans insisted uDon re-
garding as improper subjects. under in
ternational law, for landing before a
ruling from tho state Department.
a further compromise was made by
which the purser of the Arpam. after
giving his parole. was granted permIs-
sion to represent his ship at the con-
ference. with the understanding that nc
would return to the Appam.
Thi3 last compromise was made after
the collector had come ashore with
room and offices of tho steamboat
wharf we're pressed into service. Prince
Won Hatzfeldt occupying one room
Captain Gaunt. the British naval at
acting as envoy between the two hostile
camps.
Carried To the Ship.
As soon as the details % the early
release of the British colonial officials
and the shipmasters were seettld. two
launches. crowded to tho rails. put of
from the Government pier.
The first was the customs boarding
launch. carrying Collector Hamilton.
Prinz Hatzfeldt and a scorc OF rcws-
pnpermen. who believed that there
might, at laSt. hc chance of getting
aboard tn. hppam.
The second launch. following closely.
carried Capt. Guy Gaunt, the British at
tach". and British Nive Consul Rcyds.
When the custom launch drew along
side the Aprams landing stage. tho
great black liner. docks deserted. rode
in chill driving rain nut no soon,r
had the German official started up the
ladder than rrany of the Appan's prs
oners. sensing a break in the monotuny
Of their confnement. thron@ed the
decks. while others thrust their heads
from the port ho les.
A fresh-f faced German sailor lad ran
newspapers His arms full he raced
back to the ship smiling and shouting
to his fellows
In moment the his steamer was
Transformed from silent hulk into
background for smiling faces. even tho
dorr. faced sertry at the top of the
ships ladder. forgot to warn the pris-
oncrs TO withdraw. from the rats.
Toss us Up a cigarette - Pritish
youth cried. and his request passod
along the rail rntil every men was call
ing for smoke.
Two or three attempts were made bv
the ncwspapermen to toss up packages
Of cigarettes. hut no hcadwav was made
until some Of the prisoners on the boat
deck obtaining some short strands Of
mnr!ne. knotted them together and
lowered awaV to the launch wehcre the
reporters were.
Entente CordiaIe.
Soon almost every man in the ranks
OF the prisoners had smoke glowing
between his lips. and. cordial relations
havinr thus been esta blishod the pris-
oners. now regarded with amused toIer-
ance instead OF the usual displeaslre
by their German sailor iailers. freely an
swereG the multitude Of questions nunr
at them by the newspa permen as to
character Of the mysterious raider
Moewe. her armament and the adven-
lures or the prisoners on their long
VOYAGE
Partial lifting of the cloak of mys-
terry which has surrounded the VOYAGE
OF the Appam and Of her captor served
only to add to the general bewilder-
ment.
Not single statement was made that
was not Immediately denied and both
statement and denial Invariably came
from absolute authorita tive'' sources.
Possibly the best example Of the ut
ter lack of coordination came yester-
day afternoon when Collector Hamilton
was asked II newspaper men might
"As far as We are concerned" re-
piled the collector. "the Government
has absolutely no objection TO any Of
you going aboard But. OF course, you
will have to Ak II up with the German
commander"
Five minutes later Prinz Won HAITI
feldt was asked the same question and
heard just as readily:
hut pV11a aY1f
at Washington has given strictest
orders that no one is to go aboard ex-
cept officials"
The Composite Story.
Out Of the maze of contradictions and
re-contradictions however, a story has
been extracted that seems fairly cred
ible. It is not authoritative. II is sim
ply a composite story CLEANED from the
most plausible and least disputed state
ments.
1t IS generally believed here that the
cruiser which captured the Appam and
seven other ships in eight days was the
Moewe. built in Germany and originally
designed for the banana trade. Prinz
Won llatZfeldt declares absolutely that
she was the Moewe. She was a vessel OF
$3.50 net tonnage, and was $50 feet long.
She was equipped with powerful en-
gines, and was capable of a speed OF
eighteen knots.
BY mean7 of false bulwarks fore and
aft the Moewe could be converted into
a peaceful looking tramp. But at a
moments notice she could drop the
cast-iron plates that concealed her bat
tertes and become an actual warship.
There was much discrepancy Of opin-
ion concerning the exact armament she
carried. but It is probable that she had
two 81 or 6-inch guns forward, four
more aft. and two torpedo tubes.
None except the Germans know where
the Moewe came from or how long she
had been at sea. She made her first
public appearance on January 70, sink
ing the British steamers Author. Ar
iadne, DromonbY, Farringford. and Ira =
der and capturing the Corbridge as a
collier in quick succession. and taking
the crews aboard.
Shn WAS cruisinp around III, r,.o,,