Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-02-17
TOLD BY EMBASSY
TO CRIPPLE LINER
Captain of Kronprinzessin c.
ellie So Testifies in
Federal Court.
WIRED SIGNAL TO ENGINEER

By the Associated Press.
BOSTON, February 11.-Capt. Charles
A. Polack of the North German Lloyd
steamship Kronprinzessin Cecilie test
flied today at federal court hearing
on a petition for the sale of the vessel
that he had been ordered by a man
connected in an official capacity with
the German embassy to disable it's
machinery. This was done, he said. to
prevent the ships use by this govern
ment in the event of hostilities with
Germany. He refused to divulge the
name of the man giving the order.
When asked by counsel for the petit
tioners to give the name of the person
Capt. Polack said:
Might Face Treason Charge.
Your honor, l am an officer of the
German navy and if l should have to
disclose the name of this gentleman in
this hearing. L might be tried for
treason when l went home to Germany.
l wish you would not oblige me to
answer that question"
The question was not pressed and
Judge Morton decided that it would
be necessary for the captain to answer
it at this time.
Capt. Polack said he met the embassy
official in January at the North German
Lloyd offices in Hoboken. The orders
to disable the ship were given at that
time in the presence of Capt. Moller,
superintendent of the company's lines in
this country, he testified. Capt. Polack
was preparing to visit Hot Springs, Va,
at the time, but changed his plans and
returned to this city.
Condition every Serious"
Continuing his testimony, the captain
declared that the embassy officials said
to him:
The relations between the two coun-
tries are being severed and the condition
is very serious.
The witness testified that he inquired
whether the machinery was to be dis
abled Immediately and that he received
an affirmative answer. Capt Moller. he
said. did not participate in this part of
the conversation.
Describing in detail his actions, Capt.
Polack said:
Some time ago, about the time when
the Sussex case was up and when diff
culties had arisen between Germany
and America. ! was asked to go to New
York. 1t was an invitation from the
company's office. / was told that | was
to meet a gentleman who wanted to
speak to me.
Knew the Gentleman.
Il knew the gentleman. He told me
that since difficulties had arisen here
he thought it was about time that
should destroy the secret code of the
vessel, her charts and plans and secret
books, in order that. in case anything
developed they should not fall into
hostile hands. and that the ship could
not be used for any length of time if
they should be needed by any hostile
power.
When ] returned from New York
spoke to my chief officer and my chief
engineer and told them what ! had
learned l told m= chief engineer that
l would leave it entirely to him to do
what he thought necessary to do to dis
able the engines of the ship | told my
chief officer that when / was not on
board and he received telegram from
me she time had come when the order
was to be executed
Asked if he had told the representa-
tive of the German government that the
ressel had beer iibcie6 and t-as now in
possession of the United States court,
the witness replied that this had not
occurred to him.
No notice had been given to the Ger
man embassy so far as he knew, said
the captain, that the ship had been
seized by orders of the court
Sent Agreed Upon Signal.
January 81, the witness continued, he.
again visited New York and had an
other interview with the parties from
whom he was taking his instructions.
After the interview he sent this tele-
gram to his chief officer. Sigmund Bic
rams, at Boston:
Tell Peterson everything O. K.''
Asked who Peterson" was, he said,