Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-01-31
CONFIRMS
RAIDER AS MOEWE
Norwegian Skipper Estab-
fishes Fact Rover Is
Famous "Sea Wolf"
ONE AMERICAN KILLED
Corsair Probably Trying to Get
Back to German
Port


COPENHAGEN, Jan. 3l.--The first de-
tailed story Of the exploits of the famous
German commerce raider Moewc. on her
second dash into the Atlantic, has just
been given here by Captain Andersen. OF
the Norwegian steamship Hallbjerg, whose
vessel was sunk by the German sea wolf
on December 4 These facts were cstab-
lished
First. That the raider was really the
Moewe
Second That an American seaman was
killed on December when Newfound-
land schooner was sunk.
Third That the Noltaire was the first
ship sunk by the Moewe on her outward
dash from Germany.
Fourth That the Mocwe is probably try
ing to make her way back to her home
port in Germany. as she did after her first
destructive voyage into the Atlantic.
The story of the Moewe's cruise reads
like a chapter from the history OF the
Spanish Main when the bold buccaneers OF
the seventeenth century were preying upon
the gold laden galleons of Spain
II was not until Captain Anderson ar
rived here with other neutral seamen that
Il was definitely established that the
Hallbjerg was a victim of the Moewe.
I'VE left New York on November 23 with
a cargo Of timed goods for Bordeaux"
Captain Andersen said. when we were
twelve days out at we sighted steam
, ship that appeared to be tramp or or
binary freighter. There was nothing sus-
picious about her and | was astonished
when she signaled to stop and broke
the German ensign at her masthead Side
boards abaft the forecastle were let down
and guns were trained upon us. There was
nothing to do but stop. German officer
came on board and. after an investigation,
said he was going to sink us. | protested
against this high-handed conduct. saying
. hat nv shin neutral and that
carrying a nonconfraband cargo. My pro-
tests were in vain. NGernan small boats
were sent alongside Us and our crew and
about 500 tins were transferred to the
raider.
ION board the German ship we found
ninety-three men from the British steam
ship Voltaire, of Liverpool which had been
sunk two days earlier
f, "At that time the Moewe was plying in
the north Atlantic steamship lane and was
taking long chances with the British patrol
fleet that was constantly combing those
waters.
Two days later the Moewe sighted
schooner. She stopped on signal and the
Germans found she was carrying cargo OF
dried fish from Newfoundland to Gibraltar.
The crew of six men was taken off and the
vessel was sen. to the bottom with dyna-
mite bomb. First, however, some of the
1sh was removed.
MOEWE II SCENIS DANbER
'Then came a long succession of attacks
on merchant ships, and as ship after snip
was sent to the bottom we began to get
very crowded on the Moewe. We were al
lowed some exercise on the deck. but when
any suspicious-lookng vessel hove in sight
we had to go below, where German blue
Jackets with carbnes threatened to shoot
any one who tried to signal.
BY this time the commander of the
Moewe knew that his presence on the At
lantic had been discovered, for the wireless
picked up warnings from warshps notifying
mercantile vessels to beware.
Thousands of horses and mules destined
for war service in Europe were killed by the
destruction of the ships on which they were
being carried.
AMERICAN KILLED
"On the night OF December the Moewe
overhauled the Canadian Pacific liner Mount
Temple. A shot was fired across her bows,
but she failed to halt and other shells were
fired at her. 1t was on the Mount Temple
that an American, stoker was killed
This ship carried $50 horses and 5000 tons
of cargo. She was sunk and lO7 more sea-
men were added to the nondescript collec-
tion of sailors that were gathering on the
raider.
1.-TWO days later the British steamship
King George. Of London, was stopped. After
her papers had been examined her crew was
ordered 10 go on board the Moewe and the
ships seacocks were opened The Moewe
stood by patiently for seven hours until the
ship disappeared.
The next day the British steamship Cam
brian Range was sent down.
"On the following day, December 10, the
Moewe overhauled a rich prize. This was
the steamship Georgia. carrying 1900 horses
and 1000 tons of cargo from Philadelphia
20 Brest
SAILORS JUMP INTO SEA
when the raider showed her guns and the
German flag the seamen evidently thought
their ship was going TO be sent down with
out more ado and panic broke out. Some