New Britain herald., 1916-08-16
GERMANS ACCUSED OF BREAKING PLEDGE
Lansing Sends Stiif Notice to Bor-
 lin Regarding Interned Sailors

Washington, Aug. 16.-An interest ing chapter of diplomatic correspond ence incident to the European war has been placed before the American public in a series of notes exchanged between the state department and the Berlin foreign office regarding numer- ous naval officers who broke their naroIe to return to their fatherland and engage again in it's defense.
 These were officers of the interned cruisers kronprinz Wilhelm and Prinz Eitel Friedrich. Some of them the United States knows now to be in ac- tive service in Germany.
 In part Mr. Lansing's protest reads:
 "On October 10, 1915, six officers, Vizesteuermann Heinrich Hoffman, Heinrich Rudebusch, Wilhelm For streuter, Erich Hermann, Ing Aspir- ants Julius Lustfield and Walter Fish CT. of the German cruiser Kronprinz Wilhelm, interned at Norfolk. Va, re- ceived permission to go ashore and to return by 8 a. n., October H. These officers have not been seen since, and are supposed to have de- parted on board the yacht Eclipse which was purchased by Vizesteuer- mann Hoffman, shortly before their departure.
 "On September 29, 1915, Marine Stabsarzt, pr. Keuger kroneck and Lieutenant See Koch, of the Ger man cruiser Prinz E1tel Friedrich, ob- tained permission to go on a visit to New York city and Niagara Falls and to return to their ship on October 18 These officers, however, have not re- turned to their ship and were seen iy, opio York city, on October 17.
 Another Flimsy Promise.
 "The German cruiser Prinz Eitel Friedrich arrived in American juris- diction on March 19, 1915, and was interned on April 9, 1915. On March 10 the commanding officer was direct ed to allow none of his officers or crew on shore for the present. The com mander acknowledged the receipt of this notice and stated that he would act accordingly. On March 12 the commanding officer asked permission for his officers and men to go ashore if they did not leave Newport News On March r, 1915, two days prior to the granting of the commanders re- quest, the executive officer, i. e., the second officer in command, Otto Brauer, 1eIL the SIlp. lHe depart ment now has reliable information that Brauer has returned to Germany and is on duty on board the cruiser LutzOW at DanZig.
 "Dr. Nolte obtained leave of a absence from the Prinz Eitel Friedrich to go to Newport News and Old Point Comfort, Va, and return on May 31 last. pr. Nolte has not as yet re- turned to his ship
 "On or about June 14, 1915, Her man Deike, engineer officer of the Locksun, interned at Honolulu, left his ship and is yet in violation of the parole.
 Tn view of the apparent disregard of these members of the complement of the interned vessels at Norfolk for their word of honor while on parole the navy department On October 14 1915, was under the necessity of or dering that no officers or men be al- lowed to leave the ships until the ab- sent officers and seamen had returned
 Parole Is Discontinued.
 'I therefore regret to have to in form Your Excellency that the United States government regards the actions of these men as contrary to its express instructions and as breaches of the honorable conduct to be expected of officers and men of visiting and in- termed ships of war of belligerent nation, and that consequently the gov ernment has been forced to discon- tinue the custom of paroling the in termed officers and men on their hon. or and otherwise to circumscribe the very liberal privileges which they have heretofore been allowed to en- | joy.'
 To this charge the Prussian Foreign office made in the effect the following reply:-
 | The commanders of the two aux iliaries unfortunately, did not suff1- ciently instruct the1r officers and crews regarding the significance of Inc "ass11rance" (versioheruppN pi1yer