Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-02-03
APPAM'S CAPTNES
EAGER FOR SHORE
Rough Water May Force Them
to Stay Aboard Until
Tomorrow.
CAPTURED VESSEL MOVES ,
TO MOUTH OF THE JAMES
Still in Command of German Officer.
Who Is Chary About
Courtesies.

NEWPORT NEWS, Va,
February 81 Every one
aboard the Appam, except
the prize officer and men,
bers of the crew, will be per-
mitted to land whenever he
desires, it was decided late
today.
NEWPORT NEWS, Va, Feb
ruary 3.-With her German prize
commander on the bridge, the
British liner Appam moved up
from Old Point early today and
anchored off this port to dis
charge the 245 persons on board
given liberty to land in the United
States.
The ships legal status still is
undetermined. On board Lieut..
Berg. the German officer, COM
mands, but he moves his craft
only on orders from Washington
through Collector Hamilton.
Explains United States Attitude.
We are treating her as an English
oh in, x1yhi ,nka
port flying the German naval ensign
and under charge of a man who says
he is an officer OF the German navy" is
MIR. Hamilton's explanation of the pres
ent attitude of the United States gov
ernment
Some of those who were passengers
on the Appam when she was captured
by the German raider known as the
Ponga or Moewe prepared to land in
Newport News. but most of them will
be transferred with the crews of other
captured British vessel to Norfolk.
there to board a steamer to New York
on their way to England.
Sir E. Merewether and other British
colonial officers who have large guam
titles of baggage have arranged to
place their property in customs bond
here and proceed directly to New York
to take the first available ship for
home.
Doesn't Overdo Courtesy.
Lieut. Berg still maintains his deter
mination to permit no one on board the
liner except those who have official
business. Though studiously. polite. he
extends no undue courtesies even to
American officials, and insists upon
recognition of his absolute authority
over the ship and her company. He is
holding more than 200 people aboard:
including his own prize crew OF
twenty-five. some twenty Germans,
who were prisoners of war on the
Appam: Capt. Harrison and the entire
crew of 1855 of the Appam. and twelve
OF her passengers whom he claimed
belong to the British army or navy. .
Until the Washington government
passes upon the German contentious.
all these persons will remain on the
liner.
Prince Won Hatfield of the Germany
at Washington and Capt.
Gaunt, the British naval attache.
reached here from Old Point soon after
the ship anchored to look after the in
ments.
Claimed as var Prize.
The prince is urging his claim that
the Appam is fair prize of war, en-
titled under an old dPrussian-American
treaty to remain in an American port
as long as TIE prize crew desires. Capt.
Gaunt, assisted by the British. vice con-
suls is managing the removal of Eng
lish subjects and awaiting the outcome
of his embassy's demand that all those
held on the liner be permitted to leave.
1t was shortly after o'clock tn,s
Choir and steamed away from Old Point.
where she had been lying under the
guns of Fort Monroe since the Ger
mans brought her into Virginia waters.
Tuesday She steamed slowly up
Hampton roads. passing several Brit
sh merchantmen as she neared Point
Breeze. famous as the point marking
he scene of the Merrimac and Monitor
light.
Salutations Are Ignored.
Loud cheers we're exchanged by the
.rews of the freighters and the Eng
ishmen on the Appam. The freighters
aIuted with three resounding blasts
# their whistles.
Lieut. Berg, on the bridge. disre-
.arded all these courtesies of the sea
nd made no response with the whistle
Il his prize.
Listen to them SalutlnE the German
lag," he said, with smile.
Rounding Point Breeze. he turned
nto James river. and in a few minutes
et go anchor near the great shipbuild-
ng plant and almost within stones
brow of the German trader Arcadia
nd the Austrian Budapest which have
een laid up here since the war began
immigration Officer Williams boarded
he vessel to pass upon the persons
esiring to land. He was accompanied
" British Vice Consul Kenw worthy. pre-
a red to guarantee transportation and
ubsistence for all the British subjects
those financial troubles might other
wise prevent them from landing.
Captains Plan Lark.
While passengers stewed and fretted
yer their inability to get OF the