West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1916-07-13

BALI lMOtE, Nd, July lO.-The
daring German seamen who brought
the submarine merchantman Dedtsch-
land across the Atlantic. slept quietly
tonight aboard their vessel, wnicn lay
moored to a carefully screened pier
guarded by strong squad OF Balti-
more police. Captain Paul koenig
the skipper. had delivered his papers
to the North German Lloyd Office, en-
tered his vessel at the custom house
as commerce carrier and had pre-
sented TO a German embassy official
a packet of correspondence for Count
Won Bernstorff
Now the submarine is ready To dis
charge her million dollar cargo OF
dye stuffs and take on board for the
return trip to Germany. metal and
rubber needed by the Emperor's army
and navy. The return merchandise is
waiting on the dock and the time for
leaving port will depend largely upon
plans for eluding vigilant enemy cruis-
ers expected to be waiting outside the
entrance OF Chesapeake bay for the
temperance OF the vessel
One of Captain Koenigs first acts
after he moved his ship up the harbor
from Quarantine early today. was to
announce that the Deutschland was
but one of a fleet of mammoth sub
mersibles built or building for a regu-
lar transatlantic freight and mail
service. He said the next to come
would be the Bremen and that she
might be looked for at some port
along the coast within eight weeks.
Anxious to establish promptly his
peaceful character, and to forestan in
yestigation sought by diplomatic rep
resentatives OF the allied powers. the
German captain submitted his craft to
thorough inspection by the surveyor
of the port and an agent OF the De
partment OF Justice. These officers, as
well as the customs inspectors and
quarantine surgeons, agreed that
there was no sign OF armament of any
description on board and that there
was no doubt in their mind about the
boat being entitled to the status OF an
ordinary merchantmen Guy V. Steele,
the surveyor, made a formal report to
this effect to Port Collector Ryan, who
transmitted it to the treasury depart
ment at Washington
1t was stated on the authority of the
captain, that the only arms on board
were four automatic pistols belonging
to the officers and a sportsman's rife
for firing rockets
This was busy day for the com
mander; beginning at dawn when the
quarantine officers came aboard, re-
cciyed the bill of health issued by the
American Consul at Bremen, and
passed the Deutschland into port.
Once safely alongside of his dock, Cap
tain Koenig called his crew ashore
and posed with them for moving pic
tare and newspaper photographers.
He laughed and chatted with the
camera men and correspondents. but
refrained from discussing his achieve
ment until after he had reported to
the agents of his owners.
Later at the Office of the North Ger
man LLOYD, he issued a typewritten
statement. telling OF the coming OF
other boats Ike the Deutschland and
asserting that his voyage had broken
the British control of the seas. At
the same time he submitted TO an in-
terview I'm which he described his 900
mi
apeake bay. lie denied reports that
he had been chased off his course by
enemy warships declaring that so far
as he knew there was not an allied
war craft in the Atlantic. The cap
tain asserted further that his voyage
had established the fact that subma-
rine of the tyne OF the Deutschland
could travel anywhere that the ordi.
nary vessel could go, 1900 miles n
necessary.
He had no fears he stated. OF his
ability to elude enemies that might be
waiting for him or the Virginia capes
when he starts his return trip
81 will be able TO submerge within
catch me after that" he said.
During nearly the entire voyage TO
America, said Captain Koeuig. the
Deutschland travelled on the surface
Once she submerged for ten hours,
and during that time. ON the bottom
OF the English channel, to escape de-
stroyers, Captain Koonig piloted his
vessel out OF Bremen on June 14. lie
went directly 20 Heligoland, remain
Ing there nine days on June % the
submarine slipped away from the is-
land fortress and the trip which ended
In Baltimore today was begun
Before beginning our trip" said
Captain Koenig. "we had several
woeks Of practice I'm our vessel in The
Baluc sea, SO chat the members of
the crew might thoroughly familiarizc
themselves with her. We left Bremen
without any ceremonies. or course
this was necessary because the voyage
was 90 be kept a secret. Outside OF
the owners and the admiralty, no one
knew where we were going except MF.
Fec, the American consul at Bremen
from whom II was necessary to obtain
our bill Of health. I am sure Mr.. Fee
kept the secret we'll.
when We got to HeligoIand. we de-