South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-02-02
BRITISH WARSHIPS
WATCHING HARBOR.
International News Service:


International News Service:
NORFOLK, Va. Feb. 2.-While
the British steamship Appam. now
a German prize. swung at anchor to-
day. under the frowning guns at
Fortress Monroe, British warships
crowded close TO the three-mile line
off the Virginia capes with the
watchfulness of grim bulldogs.
Lieut. Berge. commander OF the
German prize crew which brought
the Appam across the Atlantic from
the Canary Islands, maintained a
strict guard on his ship today and
sentries armed with carbines. pa
trolled the decks. allowing no one
except officials 10 board or leave
her
Meanwhile the work of provision
ing the vessel is going on rapidly,
as she was out of food when she put
into port
Commander Quiet.
Efforts TO get further information
from Lieut. Berge as to the capture
Of the Appam and the sinking Of
seven other British merchant ships
off the african coast were unavail-
ing, but passengers on the prize de-
clared that there was no doubt that
the lonely raider was the German
privateer Moewe, which is sup
posed to have escaped from Kiel
under the Swedish flag and then
was armed at some secret base
which the Germans have established
on the Atlantic.
All of the members of the Ger
man prize crew of % men were
sworn to secrecy. Dire penalty
awaits them if they reveal anything
as to the capture OF the raider, her
base and her whereabouts.
Lieut.. Berge. a slight, wiry man,
whose straight thin lips are hidden
beneath a closely cropped beard,
snapped out a brisk negative when
asked to give the story of the
Moewe
Destroyed Seven Ships.
ct can only say that seven British
ships were destroyed between Jan.
10 and Jan. II, but that every pre-
caution was taken to prevent loss OF
life" said Lieut.. Berge. II was
ordered to bring the Appam into
portland here l am"
1t was learned that at one time
the Appam was so close to one of
the British men Of war patrolling the
Virginia coast that il seemed i'm
possible TO avoid her, but skilful
seamanship, aided by friendly fog,
saved the Appam an impertinent in
vestigation.
Passengers on the Appam, includ-
ing high British officials and the
shippers of eight British merchant
ships, said they had no complaint
to make of their treatment The
women and children on board were
given every consideration by Lieut.
Berge and his German sailors They
were allowed TO exercise upon the
decks and, although the food ran
short. at the end of the 4,2OO-miIe
voyage they had plenty to keep them
from actual hunger.
Lieut.. Berge was prepared to sac
rifice the lives Of the AIS persons
on the Appam by sinking the ship
with dynamite if he was held up by
British or French warshipS on the
voyage across the Atlantic. Dynamite
was planted all over the ship and
electrical appliances attached so
that the vessel could be blown up
from the bridge.
Told Of Dynamite
The passengers were told of the
dynamite and warned that if they
attempted an outbreak they would
be blown to atoms.
Among the prisoners on the yes
sci were five British army officers
two heutenants. two sergeants and
one color sergeant. Especially strict
guard was kept upon them.
Members Of the German prize
crew, wearing automatic pistols in
their belts compelled Capt. II. G..
Harrison and seamen of the Appam
to go about their usual duties on
the ship.
we made no resistance for we
realized that the lives of the pas