Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-02-01
Vessel Believed Lost Arrives
at United States Coast
Unframed.
TEUTONS IN CHARGE
Ship Captured by Grew of
of German Subway
Be Interned.

Newport News, Va, Feb. With !
the German naval ensign futtering
boldly from her stern and in charge Of
aGerman prize crew, the British South |
African liner Appam, given up for lost
took refuge in Hampton Roads today, |
with the story of seven vessels de-
stroved by German sea raiders off the
African coast.
The Appam was captured off the
Canary Islands on Jan. Is by German
raider four days after she had sailed
from Dakar, British West Africa, for
Plymouth, England.
Whether the captor was a German
U-boat or a hitherto unreported Ger
man auxiliary cruiser is undetermined.
From what was learned by some of the
officials who boarded the Appam it is
believed that some steamer, armed as
aGerman auxiliary, raiding shipping off
the African coast, took the British
liner and put the prize crew abroad.
This view is supported by the fact that
submarine could hardly have spared
lieutenant and such a large crew to
sprize.
Elude British Cruisers.
Lieutenant Berge of the German
navy, placed on the Appam when she
was captured, brought in the prize,
Gliding the Gordon OF British cruisers
across the Atlantic, and adding to the
historic chapter of German exploits at
sea, chapter to rank with the adyen-
lures of the Emden, the Prinz Eitel
Friedrich and Kron Prinz Wilhelm.
There are 451 persons aboard the
ship including 1873 survivors of seven
ships sunk by the raider which cap
tured the Appam; 90 German civilians
being transported from Africa to Eng
land to be placed in detention camps;
Us members Of the Appam's crew; 116
original passengers on the Appam and
the prize crew of %.
Many of the passengers on the APP
pam are women and children. There
are also several high British colonial
officials who were returning to Eng
land from Africa.
There are also four wounded sailors,
taken from one Of the sunken ships,
which resisted capture and was
shelled.
Seven Vessels Sunk.
According to information from the
crew who talked with Lieutenant
Berge the Appam was captured with
out resistance on Jan. Is, the day the
British news reports said wireless
communication with the vessel sud
aeniy ceased. a prize crew was placed
/ Oh board and the same day the raider
which captured the Appam gave chase
10 another British steamer, bound for
Australia with a cargo of meat. The
neat ship gave battle, was captured
aud was sunk after a large portion of
hef cargo was taken off.
Sx more vessels then were destroy
q in rapid succession, it was stated,
Inc Crews taken on board the Appam,
which ran due west across the Atlantic
ief Hampton Roads.
When the Appam arrived off Old
toint today Quarantine Officer McCaf-
Nfy went aboard and after his inspec-
a9h brought Lieutenant Berge ashore,
.ae Appam got a clean bill of health
'ae Tour wounded sailors were the
~Y cases Of sickness found.
me German consul, L. Marshall Won
''aiillng took charge of the situation
sHa Lieutenant Berge went to the Of
I'VE Of Colonel Ira Haynes, command.
4'ol Fortress Monroe, where the Ger.
~sa officer paid his respects.
me names Of the steamers sunk by
~ raider which captured the AppaH
T gwen as the Corbridge, Trader
sAane, Dromonby, Farringford, Clan
laVish and Arthur.
Is also reported now that the
s0ef was the cruiser Howe, instead
submarine, although this is moi
safrmed.
First Case of Kind.
'ashihgton, Feb. /. - Perplexine
eions Of international law may
n. from the arrival Of the Appam II
Sp'on Roads. First, the United
a. must determine whether th'
smpiy is prize Of war, or wheth
/ 49,, sue has been supplied with am
etent which would give her the
t a. OF an auxiliary cruiser. 81
st..., naval authorities know no cast
10y Ike II has arisen 10 concern