The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1916-02-04

Appan, British Liner Believed
Lost, Is Captured.
STARTLING EXPLOIT OF WAR

Ship Was Seized by Disguised German
Torpedo Boat Moewe Near Canary
lslands-Prize Crew Put Aboard
Victims of Previous Attacks With
Them.
Norfolk, Feb. 2.-The exploits of the
German raider Emden, which Destroy
ed many merchant ships early in the
war, were overshadowed when the
British liner Appam, believed lost off
the African coast, came into port fly.
ing the German flag and manned by a
German crew Of twenty-five men--a
prize of war.
She was captured by the German
torpedo boat Moewe, which was dis
guised as a tramp steamer, and she
carried 400 persons, many of whom
had been taken from seven other YES
sells, sunk by the Moewe.
The Moewe, a vessel Of $50 tons,
had not false smokestacks, as had the
Emden, but she few the British en-
sign and wore false sides. When she
bore down upon the Appam she low
cred her false sides and the British
flag, ran up the German ensign and
displaced full armament of guns.
The Appam, though armed vs.
three-inch guns, surrendered wit
fight to avoid destruction.
Prisoners Help Man Ship.
The Moewe carried crew of 10a
men, and twenty-five of these, with
twenty German prisoners who were
on board the Appam, brought the ship
into port.
Before the real story of the Appam's
capture came out it had been stated.
first, that she was captured by Ger
man submarine, and later that
tramp, accompanied by torpedo boat.
had taken her.
Late in the afternoon 1t was author
itatively stated that the Moewe took
the prize. Some of the sailors on the
Appam wore caps with the word
"Moewe" on the bands.
Names Of Moewe Victims.
The names of the steamers sunk by
the raider, which captured the APP
pam, are given as the Trader, the Ar
thur, the Corbridge, the Ariadne, the
Dromonby, the Farringford and the
Clan MacTavish.
Captured OF Canary Islands.
The Appam capture was made off
the Canary Islands and the vessel
crossed the Atlantic, distance of ap-
proximately 1920 miles, with a prize
crew on board and German comman-
der on the bridge.
When the Appam left Dakar, on the
west coast of Africa, for Plymouth on
January II, she carried 160 passen-
gers, twenty German citizens who
were being sent to England for intern
ment and crew of 155 men.
Presents Legal Complications. =
Washington, Feb. 2.-What Is ex-
pected to prove one Of the most seri-
Gus complications of the European
war so far as this government is con-
cerned, developed when the British
merchant steamer Appam, previously
believed lost at sea, reached Norfolk
In charge Of German prize crew.
The Appam's final disposition will pre-
sent to this government a number of
very serious problems. This was the
first prize of the European war to en-
ter a United States port. =
II has been agreed, however, that
this government shall stand on the let
ter of The Hague agreement. This pro-
vides that the question of whether the
Appam is a legal prize shall be refer
red to Germany, which will have a
prize court reach decision. There is
not the slightest doubt that the deci-
sion will become acute. The Hague
agreement says that lawful prize
coming into neutral port must leave
within reasonable time, otherwise IL
shall be interned. Inasmuch as the
British authorities already are under
stood to be sending warships to the
Virginia Capes to recapture the APP
pam, 1t Is certain that she will be in.
termed