The Washington herald., 1917-04-01
ARE jailed
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quest. The fifty Americans taken from
the Elysium Meralda, the two sailors re-
ported. were taken of the Moewe at
Kiel. shortly after her arrival in Ger
many, and it was believed that they wer,
taken to a prison camp in Westphalia.
Minister Egan's report to the depart
ment, made public last night. read:
Sailed from Norfolk
Alexander Meyer and Able Seaman
Jack Benson reached Copenhagen from
Germany on March 2S. and made the fol-
lowing statement: That they sailed from
Norfolk. Va, on September ), 1916. on the
Norwegian bark Staut, bound to South
Georgia Islands. The Staut carried a
cargo of provisions and coal and was to
return from the South Georgia Islands
with whale oil. She was sighted by the
British ship st. Theodore. on February 8,
1917. which ship had been captured by
the Germans and was manned by Ger
man crew. German officer boarded the
Staut and ordered the crew to pack up
belongings and embark on the st. TheO-
dOre.
After embarking. a bomb was placed
in the main hatch of the Staut and she
sank within twenty minutes. The Staut
carried sixteen sailors and officers, Ben
son being the only native American. and
Meyer beinE a naturaliZed citizen. They
remained ten days on the st. Theodore,
and were then transferred to the Ger
man cruiser Moewe. They arrived at
lliel March q. having been forty-three
days on the Moewe, Benson and Meyer
were confined below while on the Moewe,
but knew whenever n ship had been sunk
or torpedOed by the new prisoners.
Many Prisoners Taken.
According to Benson, the British
schooner Jean had already been tor
pedoed and also the RadnOrshire the Ro-
tai Mall boat with a crew of IS men. and
the Nctherby Hall with crew of 40 men,
when they were taken aboard the MoeWe.
The Staut was captured with its 16 meE.
Afterw ord the Breckncckshre was CAP
tured with S men. including one Ameri-
can from Seattle. British steamer Eddy.
with - men: British steamer French
Prince, with 30 men: British steamer Ro-
denta. with % men: British steamer kath-
crime. with q men; British STEAMER
OtaCka was captured after fight. eight
men being killed. The Pacific Steam
Navigation Boat Elysium Meralda, from
Liverpool having delivered American
horses, was captured with llG men, so OF
them Americans One man named Smith
had an American army discharge. Steam
er Governor was captured after fight,
five men being killed. and British steamer
Demerditan was captured with s. men.
Benson and Meyer were released to
Copenhagen after remaining on the
Moewe for three days in the harbor OF
kiel The remaining Americans were
taken OF the Moewe and it is believed
were sent to Westphalia.'
U. s. Makes Inquiries
The State Department has already di-
rected an inquiry through the Swiss
Minister. representing German interests
here. as to the Americans taken to Ger
many aboard the Moewe.
Three colored American seamen are un
accounted for in the destruction OF the
Portuguese sailing ship Argo. bound from
New Orleans to London. March 23 Con-
sui Armstrong reported from Bristol.
William Pitts and Spencer Kennedy.
colored American seamen. Portuguese
sailing ship Argo. from New Orleans for
London, carrying general cargo, swear
Argo shelled without intentional warning
by submarine flying German flag, 500
miles on Gravesend. 3 O'Clock, March 23,"
said the Armstrong cable. weather
rough. cold: occupants lifeboats at sea
four days; suffered from exposure. When
picked up by British hospital ship and
brought in Avonmouth. one lifeboat with
three colored Americans unaccounted for;
their names unknown. Two other Amer
leans. Troy Thomas, Charley Mackson,
rescued. suffering from exposure No
other boat rearby. Submarine offered no
assistance. Nrgo no resistance