Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-02-03
ANExceptLiner 'sCrew and
"Enen,y Forces VIII
Land To-Day on
AmericdnSoil.

OLD POINT COMFORT VA. Feb
ruary 1.-Two hundred and forty-fvc
persons. held prisoner by German
prize crew on the former British pas
scngcr liner Appam. were informed to-
night that they were at liberty to land
on American soil. More than 200
others aboard. including the German
captorS, the captain and crew OF the
liner and certain passengers alleged to
belong to The armed forces of Great
Britain, will be held on board until
the United states government definitely
determines their status and that Of the
ship itself.
This Arrangement was reached on
orders from Washington at "A confer
encc between representatives of the
German and English governments on
the Old Point Comfort wharf with the
American collector. Norman r HamiI-
ton. acting as intermediary
MOVE UP TO NEWPORT NEWS
TO DISEMUARK PASSENGERS
The captured liner. which has swung
AT anchor in Hampton Roads off Fort
Monroe since she put into the Virginia
capcs on Tuesday morning. will move
UP TO Newport News early tomorrow
to discmbark her passengers with
the others will land G.. A. Tagliaferri
naturalizcd American citizen. of
Nevada, tho only citizen of the United
states aboard. TaEliaferri. who. al
though carrying his citizcnship papers.
had not made his identity known was
discovered to-day by the Immigration
officer
Lieutenant Berg. the German re-
scrVist. commanding the prize crew,
still asserts and maintains full au-
thority on board the liner. but he is
acting under orders from the United
states government through Collector
Hamilton. He has agreed TO move the
ship to Newport News and hold her
there pending further Developments
After the conference on the wharf
the British naval attachc told Collector
Hamilton that those aboard who were
free TO depart still had some uncer-
tainty about their right to go. Hc pre-
vailed upon Mr.. Hamilton to return to
the ship and make the same statement
lie had made at the conference.
The passengers were assembled in
the dining saloon, and Sir Edward
Merewethcr introduced Mr. Hamilton.
The latter then explained that all those
aboard were free to leave except the
German prize crew, the crew OF the
Appam and the twelve passengers
whom tho Germans contend have Brit
ish military connections.
HAMILTON GIVES ANSWER
TO LIEUTENANT nEHG
y passenger. who spoke as the repre-
sentative of these twelve men, asked
Collector Hamilton whether they would
have the protection of lhc I;uitcd
States government while the ship was
within American territorial waters
Lieutenant Berg objected TO the pas
senSer using the term American pro-
lection" reminding him that he was
which was equivalent to being on Ger
man soil.
The collector interceded for the
passenger.
You have sought asylum in port
OF the United States" said Mr. Hamil-
ton, addressing Lieutenant Berg. while |!
afforded protection. and all the others
will be given similar protection"
Tho passengers expressed their ap-
proval of the collectors stand by loud !
applause
Very WELL" returned Lieutenant
Berg.
Mr.. Hamilton explained that his in |
structions had been to release every !
body aboard except members OF tho
prize crew, but since Lieutenant Berg
had raised tho point that tho members
of the Appam's crew should be detained