Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-07-12
Under=Sea
Vessel Is
N0tAr11led
German Commerce Car
rier Not Even Pierced
for Torpedo Tubes

Baltimore, Md, July 11.-Confdent
that the efforts of the diplomatic rep
resentatives Of the Entente Allies to
| have his vessel classed as a warship
and interned will Prove unavailins,
Capt. Paul koenig, master of the
German submarine Deutschland. is
preparing 70 leave port on his return
voyage within 10 days
Capt. koenig tonight expressed sat-
lStacuon, bur not SURPRISE when in
formed that the American naval off
GERS who today inspected the Deutsch-
land to determine her status, had re-
ported in effect that not only was she
an undrmed merchant vessel, but was
so constructed that she could not be
converted into a war craft without
! being virtually rebuilt.
AT least eight of these vessels. if was
! authorltatively learned today. now are
being built at kiel and with these in adj
dition to the Deutschland and the Bremen
already en- route for an American port.
| Germany expects in a measure to re-es-
ta-blish her lost commerce.
The torpedo being submarines essen
7 tlal weapon to make her effective as a
war craft. II was the possibility that the
| peutschlard might he pierced for torpe-
do tubes that was the chief concern of
the American naval officers headed by
Capt. G. F. Hughes who inspected the
vessel today. Not only were none found,
! but an examination of the forward part
of the vessels ull. where torpedo tubes
naturally would be located revealed it
was said. the structure was not suhstan-
tial enough TO contain them Cant.
! Hughes and his assistants We're given the
entire freedom Of the ship and there was
no space within the interior that he did
not explore.
When the navy officers arrived at the
pier Of the submarine in A tug. Capt.
/ koenig WaS at the office Of his agents
and the subordinate officer in command
declined to allow the collector to bring
his party aboard without the consent
of his superior. This Capt. koenis free
| ~ gave. Capt. Hughes and his assist
ants, Lieut.. j. Q. Fisher of the bureau
Of steam engineering and Naval Con-
structors Herbert s. Howard, passed
more than two hours on the vessel.
He was proud of his vessel and | do
not blame him" said Capt. Hughes. 1t
is wonderful piece Of mechanism
If the Deutschland has any new de-
vices Of mechanism Capt Hughes now
knows them. He would not say if any
such existed, but made it clear in this
connection that everything he wanted
to know was frankly explained. He had
no instructions or intention he said, to
. report any knowledge he may hate
gained.
1T was all Greek" said Mr.. HAY
ward, but the navy engineers appear
/ ed almost dumhfounded They were
, highly enthusiastic
The Deutschland today began I'M
! loading her cargo Of dyestuffs. This
task probably will be completed on
Thursday after which She will begin to
take on her return cargo of nickel and
rubber.
The agents Of the craft said today
that the cargo had been consigned TO
order" and would he delivered to con-
Germs who presented bills of Iading.
How these documents reached this
country without falling into the hands
Of the British was not explained.
An informed German ship was towed
close to the Deutschland today and will
serve as quarters for the crew of the
submarine.
1t was asserted that the Deutschland
was the first submarine to leave Ger
many for the United States.