The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-02-03
German in Charge of Appam
ParrieS With Uncle Sam.
Insists on Holding 200 OF the
Helpless Captives.
CALLS THEM WAR PRISONERS
Officials Unable to Determine
Status of Prize Ship.
Treaties Clash; British and
German Diplomats Mix In.

Newport News Feb. 3.-Everyone
aboard the Appam except the officer
and members of the prize crew. will
be permitted to land whnever they
desire. This was oroered by United
States officials late today. But Lieu
tenant Berg insists he has a right to
retain all war prisoners.
With her German prize commander
on the bridge. the British liner APP
pam moved up from Old Point early
today and anchored off this port to
discharge those on board The ships
legal status still is undetermined.
Lieutenant Berge moves his craft only
on orders from Collector Hamilton.
I'VE are treating her as an Eng
lish ship which has put into an
American Port flying the German
naval ensign and under charge of d
man who says he is an officer of the
German navy is Mr.. HamiltOns eX-
planation of the present attitude of
the United States.
Some of those who were passengers
on the ADpam VIXEN she was captured
/ by the German raider. variously de-
1 scribed as the Ponga or Woewe pre-
pared to land in Newport News, but
must of them will be transferred with
! the crews of other captured vessels
! TO Norfolk. there to board a steamer
1 10 New Ork on their way to England.
Rules Ship With Iron Hand
! Sir Edward Merewether and other
British colonial officials with large
quantities of baggage have arranged to
place their property in customs bonds
4 here and proceed directly to New York
to take the first available ship for
home.
I Lieutenant Berge still maintains his
determination to permit on board the
rliissFsesRassoRese eePt-thoses who have
official business. Though Stufiously-
polite he extends no undue courtesies
even to American officials and in
sistS upon recognition of his absolute
authority over the ship and her COM
pany.
/ He insists on holding more than 200
people aboard, including his own prize
crew of % men, some twenty Germans
who were prisoners of war on the APP
J pam, Captain Harrison and the entire
crew of l 55 of the Appam and II of
her passengers whom he claims belong
to the British army or navy.
Financial Aid for British.
Prince Won Hatzfeldt, counselor of
the German embassy at Washington.
and Captain Gaunt, the British naval
attache, reached here from Old Point
Comfort soon after the ship anchored,
to look after the interests of their re-
spective governments. The prince is
urging his claim that the Appam is
old Prussian-American treaty to re
main IN an American port as long as
the prize crew desires. Captain
Gaunt, assisted by the British vice
consul. is managing the removal of
English subjects and awaiting the out
come of his embassy's demand that
all those held on the liner be permit
ted to leave.
immigration Officer Williams board
ed the Appam soon after she reached
here to pass upon the persons deSir-
ing to land. He was accompanied by
pared to guarantee transportation and
whose financial troubles might other
wise prevent them from landing.
Was Cruiser in Disguise.
Daniel Bacon, agent of the Elder
Dempster company. British owners OF
the Appam, says that the vessel was
captured by "a new type of light
draft, heavily armed. swift German
cruiser built on the lines of ( mer-
chairman and easily disguised"
''She was not an old warship but a
brand new vessel said Mr.. Bacon. 81
cannot give her name though [ have
been officially told it, The cruiser
which captured the Appam was escort
ed by several other vessels, at least one
of which was a collier that also acted
, as a scout ship.
! Il understand that the sum of $780,
600 in gold was taken from the spe-
, Gle room of the Appam when she was
, captured and that the mails and cargo
are intact"