The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1916-02-02
STATE DEPARTMENT
HAS BIG QUESTION
1t Is to Determine Whether
the Appam Is a Prize of
War for the Germans =
Secretary Lansing Has
Reached No Decision-A
Mysterious Raider Is Told
About

Old Point Comfort, Va. Feb. 2.-Princ,
Won Hatzfeldt, the personal representa-
tive of Count Won Bernstorff, the Ger
man ambassador to the United States
arrived here to-day to confer with Lieu
tenant Berge, the commander of the priz'
crew which yesterday brought the Brit
ish steamer Appam into this port flying
German anof-war flag and Others
,and report to the German embassy.
81 am certain" said Prince Won Hatz.
,feldt, that under the treaty of the
United States with Prussia that the Ap-
pam will be declared war prize and
turned over to the German prize crew
The passengers undoubtedly will be lib
Grated shortly"
The Appam continued to ride an an
chor quarter of mile off Old Point
Comfort to-day and no visitors were per.
mitted to board her. The Appam
brought word of mysterious German
raider of commerce.
From all reports. the raider is con-
verted German merchantmen with false
canvas forecastle concealing battery Of
guns of fairly large calibre. On Jan. IL
she engaged in battle an armed Austria
liam trader, the Clan MacTavish, which
she sank after an exciting combat with
loss of Is men killed on the Clan Nc
lavish. The Appam, which was 10 miles
away at the time in charge of prize
crew, steamed hurriedly back to the
scene and rescued four members Of the
crew of the sinking Clan McTavish
struggling in the water.
Later, under orders from the comman-
der of the raider, Lieutenant Berge head
ed his prize for an American port and
parted company with the Moewe.
On JAN 10 the Moewe captured and
sank the British steamship Farringford,
carrying 500 tons of copper ore. Later
the same day she captured the British
steamship Corbridge, with a cargo Of
5000 tons of coal. The Moewe did not
sink the vessel, but sent crew aboard
and held her as collier.
For three days the Moewe was mac
tive and then the British admiralty
transport Dromonby hove in sight on
Jan. -. She offered no resistance and
was captured and sunk. Before the day
was over, the raider had met and de-
stroyed the British steamship Author,
carrying 5000 tons of general cargo. and
IHc duibHditS tianspoIL lTdueT WIN
5000 tons of sugar
No ship of the enemy was sighted on
the l4th, but on the 18th the British
steamer Ariadne crossed the raiders path |
and WAS sent to the bottom with her |
cargo of 5000 tons of wheat.
Next day, the 18th, there appeared the |
biggest prize of all, the liner Appam,
carrying 5000 tons of general merchsn-
disc, including large quantity of cocoa.
One or two shots were fired at the Ap- |
pam, but there was no real fight
The Moewe approached the liner flying
the British ensign and exchanged salutes
with her. When she was close enough |
to cross the Appam' bow Sc ran up the
German flag and lowered the false fore
castle, disclosing her armament.
No one knows where the Moewe came
from except the prize crew aboard the
Appam, nor where she went after the
battle with the Clan MeTavish. Appar-
emily all the operations revealed by the
arrival of the Appam took place in the
vicinity of the Canary islands.