Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-02-14

'ctter was ueHNereu 10 count Won BERN
storff
THE LETTER
The letter follows
await here your words to consent to
an interview I am cousin OF Prince
Frederick Wilhelm, / seek an appear
ance before you to explain myself. II
you will refuse to believe my lifes
secret, then for Gods sake do not refuse
TO call upon me to shoulder gun and
In the cause.
FREDERICK HoHENzoLLERN
p. S.--Have you no instructions?
The train that brought Bernstorff and his
party from Washington was guarded to
minute perfection.
PHOTOGRAPHERS BUSY
Few In IIoboken knew the departing Am
bassador and his suite had arrived.
Swarming up to the train, reporters and
photographers waited while Prince HAITI
feldt emerged from the car and was closely
followed by Count Won Bernstorff. The
cameras began to click.
Take off your hat" photographer
yelled, unceremonlously. at the departing
envoy. Bernstorff removed his soft fedora
But 1t still wasn't satisfactory.
Put II on yelled another And the
Count did
just as all the photographers had finished
moving picture operator dashed up breath
lessly.
Count" he said, 81 didn't get YOU.
Would you take off your hat again."
Bernstorff smiled and oblgingly raised
the hat again. lie posed in spite Of OBJ
jections from his wife while the movie film
made its historical record
you'll take cold" Countess Bernstorff
objected and solicltously she turned up the
collar of his coat.
Reporters clamored for interviews, but the
Ambassador, still smiling. waved them
away.
II have nothing to say" he said.
Prince Hatzfedt. counselor of the en-
bassy was the first member OF the party to
start for the liner lie entered one of the
thirteen waiting limousines and was whisled
away to the Scandnavian-American pier
Count anc Countess Won Bernstorff, accom-
panied by Princess lIatzfeldt. left next.
They were followed quickly by other mem-
bers Of the party.
Official sternness capitulated to feminine
diplomacy aboard the Frederick VII i'm one
instance.
An ironbound rule that none of the party
of the dismissed German diplomats leave
the vessel was broken. Prince Won Hatz-
feldt approached Captain John Henry. of
the secret service stan, and asked that a
pass be granted his wife, the Princess
Elizabeth, to make one last visit to Fifth
avenue shops. The request was granted.
TRANSFER DONE QUICKLY
There was no disorder of any kind in
Hoboken The transfer of the party from
train to steamship was done quickly.
Arriving at the pier the party passed
through the gate of stockade that had
been built around the pier SO feet outside
the landing. No one was allowed to pass
this barrier except members of the diplo-
matte corps and persons vouched for by
Bernstorff.
Precautions on land were no greater than
those in tba HudSoD Riyap ,f
the Port Malone spent the night on board
the Frederick VIII. A police boat kept
up a constant patrol OF the nearby waters,
circling about the ship. A dozen policemen
were in the boat.
Chief Flynn. of the United States secret
service, and a number Of his aids were
with the Bernstorff party. They accompa-
MED the party aboard ship and were to
remain there until sailing time.
More precautions were to be taken as the
ship passed down the river and out into
the bay The police boat patrol was to
escort the liner This craft. huge, fast
tug. mounts rapid-fire gun in the bow.
There was a possibility also that a United
States destroyer would accompany the liner
to the Narrows.
The departure of the Frederick VIII may
be delayed until late this evening. She was
scheduled to sail at 2 D. m but
line officials declared that the unusua ally
heavy cargo could not be loaded by that
time.
The Frederick VIII will carry one of the
largest cargoes and passenger lists in her
history, thus putting another notch in the
record of Captain Thomson who has crossed
the Atlantic 425 times and is plastered
with decorations
The Frederick VIII will sail from port
with more guarantees Of safety than any
ship in months. The Allied Governments
having given Bernstorff safe-conduct and
the route to be taken being out of the mine
zone the liner is assured of clear passage
In view of this. applications for passage
fairly swamped the steamship Offices First
and second class cabins were thrown to-
gether, 215 persons booked passage for
these cabins. In addition about ESQ made |
third class reservations. The official Ger
man party numbers 154. making total of
more than 500 aboard.