Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1917-03-22
PLOTTERS HELP
FLEEING SAILORS
Two Germans Drowned in Dash
for Liberty.
10 ARE REPORTED AT LARGE
Teutons Who Escaped From lnterned
Raiders Reported to Be Well Sup
piled With Money-Troops
Guard Prisoners.

Philadelphia, March 21.-It became
known that the German sailors who
escaped from the interned raiders
Prinz Ettel Friedrich and the Kron-
prinz Wilhelm last night had list Of
outside cOnspiratOrs who were ready
to aid them and that they had been
supplied with thousands of dollars to
finance their escape.
1t now is believed that other mem
bers of the crew had escaped before
the discovery Of the plot.
All the interned sailors still at
League Island are to be removed at
once.
Believe Ten Men at Large.
The Philadelphia detective bureau
is responsible for the statement that
from three to ten members of the
crews got away in the dash for lib
erty at night Four sailors were cap
tlIred
4,oInng can be learned from gov
eminent officials at the navy yard,
where the two ships are interned, but
the detectives believe that ten men
y
across a channel to the shore
The dash was made under cover of
darkness, and when search was made
at daylight the police found an inter
esttng collection of property. 1t in
clUded ten life preservers marked
with the Initials of the two cruisers,
three discarded uniforms and a dag
ger.
They also found civilian clothing
Enclosed in oilskin bags. and this, it is
suspected, was placed on the shore
by accOmplices of the escaping men.
The police say that each of the men
captured had ten new $40 bills pinned
to his undershirt.
Report Officer Drowned.
Washington. March 21.-Lieutenant
ChOrth and Machinist Mate Hermann
Schroeder of the German interned
crews at Philadelphia navy yards are
believed to have been drowned in an
attempt to escape. Eight other men
who escaped at the same time are re-
ported to have been captured by COM
panies of marines and the Philadelphia
police. These are in addition to the
four who were reported as having
failed to escape.
Fourteen men were concerned in the
attempt to escape. Officials feel GER
tain that the dash was known to the
German officers and that the men, led
by Lieutenant ChOrth, made it with
of q M
their purpose was can only be left to
speculation.
Won Schoen in u. S.
In connection with the coup it may
or may not be significant that Baron
Won SchOen. a former attache of the
GERMAN embassy, transferred TO Mex
leo before the break with Berlin, re-
Gently has been reported travelling In
the United States.
In the light Of the present situation
and all the circumstances the presence
of a German diplomatic agent abroad
in the country is looked upon with
some concern. The prospect OF Ger
man sailors at large also is regarded
with apprehension.
All the men interned at Philadelphia
are TO be transferred this week to
Forts Mcpherson and Oglethorpe. Ga,
where they will be kept in stockades
and guarded by troops of the Seven
teenth infantry
Troops to Guard Crews.
Ell PasO, Tex, March 21.-The Sew
enteenth United States infantry left
here for Fort Oglethorpe and Fort Nc
Pherson, Ga, where they will guard
inrnrnad German sailors. The head