The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1916-02-03

marine OF the dreadnaHght type II
mid-Atlantic and had been brought
across by score Of men.
AS soon as the Appam dropped an
Choir Lieutenant Berg of the German
navy hastened ashore to pay his re
spects to Colonel Haynes, United
States commander at Fortress Mon
roe.
Ii was not until after this visit thai
the facts OF the capture became
known. The Moewe had on board 13S
prisoners taken from other British
ships which she had destroyed and
these were transferred to the Appam
Internnent Uncertain.
Collector Of the Port Hamilton went
on board the Appam shortly after he'll
arrival to make an investigation.
He said he was not sure whether
the ship would be interned or whether
It would put to sea again, taking the
chance of capture.
Lieut.. Oscar Berg, commander OF
the German prize crew that brought
the captured British liner Appam
across the Atlantic, declared that the
capture of the vessel and her subse
quent voyage formed one OF the great
est achievements OF che war.
eve had to fight to take some 9th
ers," said the lieutenant, but we
brought her through unscratched with
the German colors at her stern, 50
we selected Norfolk because we
had heard now easily other German
ships got In here. We changed our
course once to go to New York, but
changed again when only two hours
off the Norfolk course, thinking It
safer to try to reach this port. We
had been told that a number of Brit.
ish cruisers were in the vicinity of
New York and thought it best not to
trouble them" .+ = "..|
The German officer laughed heartily
at his own pleasantly and then con.
tinued:
I'VE will go to sea again il allowed
to make a few repairs"
Lieutenant Berg refused to give the
name of the privateer that captured
the Appam or to state how many yes.
sells had been taken by her. -
'This is a secret of war" he de-
ciared. I'VE have captured many ships,
and our work is not yet done"
was there a Submarine with the
merchant vessel?" he was asked. -
That is also war secret" he re.
piled. '3's+ &..i '~ E @..@ 49,"
The Appam was aJfine prize. She
is brand new ship Of 1874 tons, and
with her cargo is VALUED at st,5O00 900.
Her commander when she left Dakar.
Capt. H. G. Garrison. gave this story
of the captUre: g 'saH'rs.'.
b. Story Of Capture. '''.. D."
On January IS, four days after the
Appam left port, she was overhauled
by a swift but disreputabIe-Iooking
tramp steamer near the Canary
islands. = a:f'fa 40
The tramp, which was recognized
as German, opened ERE, in the mean.
time signaling the Appam to heave to.
The Appam tried to fee but the shells
from the tramp began falling on
board. and when several persons had
been wounded it was decided to give
up.
When the German sailors boarded
her they boosted that they had sunk
seven other British merchant ships.
and that they had 1873 prisoners on
their armed ship .f'
After a council it was decided to
transfer the prisoners to the Appam,
put a prize crew on board, release the
German eaptiVes on the Appam, and
turn the captured vessels prov
toward the United States. Norfolk
seemed to offer the best haven, so the
Appam was headed in that direction.
In the meantime Lieutenant Berg
had had all the passengers and sea,
men searched. taking their weapons.
Then the passengers and sailors were
drawn up and addressed by the Ger.
man officer, who told them they would
not be harmed IL they offered no re.
sistance. AS the Germans we're all
heavily armed and maintained the
strictest vigilance. the passengers re,
manned passive.