Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-02-02
LIKE APPARIT|ON,
MISSING VESSEL
APPEARS IN PORT
Appam, of West African
Trade, Victim of Mysteri-
Gus Commerce Destroyer.
SENT ACROSS ATLANTIC
INTO AMERICAN WATERS
She Brings Crews Of Seven Other
British Ships Also Cap
tured by Raider.
SCENE is NEAR CANARY ISLANDS
Now Lies on Old Point Awaiting
Decision as to Disposition
by Washington.
is NEAR CANARY ISLANDS
Now Lies on Old Point Awaiting
Decision as to Disposition
by Washington.

NUKE ol-k, W., February l.-Ctvcn
UP for lost days ago. the British pas
senger liner Appam, plying in tho West
African trade, appeared like an appari-
ton in Hampton Roads to-day nying
the German naval ensign. and with
her ships company under guard OF u
German prize crew She brought word
OF n mysterious German cnmmcrc.
raider the Moewe. which now roams
the seas. and had on board tho crews
OF seven British merchantmen and adj
miralty transports captured hv the
MOcwo before she seized the Appam
and started her across the Atlantic for
an American port. with Lieutenant Hans
Berg. of the German naval reserve and
Twenty-Five mon in charge
The Appam now lies off Old Point
Comfort. under the guns Of Fortress
Monroe. waiting for the State Depart
ment at Washington 10 determine her
status--whcther she is 4 man-of war,
subject to internment. or German
prize. ny, to, morrow tho customs au-sv
thorities HIRE hope to have orders TO
send the ship either to Norfolk or New
port News. where the anxiously watt
ing British civilians will be put ashore.
VESSEL MAKES BRIEF
SHOW OF RESISTAN
According to the story told with
great reserve by Lieutenant Rerg to
Collector Norman r. Hamilton when
he formally reported his presence in
American territorial waters late to-
day. the Mocwe captured the Appam.
bound from Dakar, French West Africa,
for Liverpool, after brief show OF
resistance, on January s, sixty miles
north OF the Madeira Islands. On board
the Mocwe then were the crews of five
vessels, previously captured, all of
whom were transferred to the Appam.
From all reports, the raider is
converted German merchantmen with n
false canvas forccastlc concealinG a
battery of guns OF fairly large calibcr.
On January II she engaged in battle
an armed Australian trader. the Clan
McTavish, which she sank, after an
exciting combat. with loss OF four
men killed on the Clan McTavish. The
Appam, which was ten miles away at
the time. in charge OF tho prize crew.
steamed hurricdly back to the scene
and rescued four members Of the crew
of the sinking Clan McTavish, who
were struggling in tho water.
HIS PRIZE IS HEADED
FOR AMERICAN PORT
Later. under orders from the COM
mandcr OF the raider, Lieutenant Berg
headed his prize for an American port
and parted company with the Moewc.
Nothing has been seen or heard OF the
raider since. aud the Appam steamed
across the ocean ON an uncvcnttul
voyage, reaching the Virginia capcs at
5:4J this morning.
ON board the Appam. all told are
45e pcrsons--thc prize crew OF twenty
three, twenty German civilians who
were on their way to England for in
tcrnmcnt. !3S sea,nen captured with .he
British ships. llG passengers on tho
Arpam and tho Appam's crow of 155.
lieutenant BERG claims the Appam Is
Il prize of war hut government officials
have not yet accepted this view. She
had one mounted rifle aboard whom
captured. but this was removed BY
the Moewe, and there were no guns
aboard her when she reached port
except small arms carried by tho prize
crew.
ON January 10 the Moewc captured
and sank the British steamship Far
rlngold. carrying 500 tons OF copper
orc. Later on the same day she cap
turcd the British steamship CorbridEe.
with n cargo OF 5000 tons OF coal. The
Mocwe did not sink the vessel, but sent
a crew aboard and held her as collier.
For three days tho Mocwc was in
active, and then the British admiralty
transport Dromonby hove in sight on
january 3. She offered no resistance,
and was captured ana sunk Bcforo
that day was over, the raider had met
and destroyed the British steamship
Author, carrying 5000 tons OF general
cargo, and the admiralty transport
Trader. with 5000 tons OF sugar
ADUIADNE SENT TO RuTToM
WITH CARGO or WHEAT
No ship OF the enemy was sighted on
the 18th, but on tho 18th tho British
steamship Adriadne crossed the raiders
path and was sent to tho bottom with
her cargo OF 5000 tons of wheat.
Next day. January l6 there appeared
the biggest prize OF all, the liner Ap-
pam, carrying 5000 tons OF general
merchandise. including large quantity
OF cocoa. Whether tho Appam offered