Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-03-10
GERMAN CAPTAIN
REVEALS STORY OF
DISABLING SHIPS
Court Testimony in kronprin-
lessen Cecelie Case Barred
Fact That German Embassy
Official Was Implicated: In
nocent Code Words Gave
Zip" to Smash Machinery

ttOOSIN OVuS UVtuo O0NC
Zip" to Smash Machiner,
Court testimony showing how pre-.
parations were made many months
ago on German refugee ships TO die.
able them IN case Of trouble between
out with startling frankness In the
trial . few days ago IN statements BY
the captain Of the North German
Lloyd liner kcnprinzessen ceceIie.
a. Boston. IN view Of the disabling Of
German vessels In the harbors Of Ho-
nolulu and HiIo, the story told by the
German captain In Boston 10 Of spe.
eisi interest here.
BOSTON. Mass, Feb. lion Janu-
airy 81, three days before diplomatic
relations between the United States
and Germany were broken off, the
North German Lloyd passenger liner
Kr0nprinzessen Cecilie, while In the
custody Of q United States marshal
under q libel order from the federal
court. was deliberately disabled at the
direction OF her German commander
This was the admission made by the
Cecilie's master. Capt. Charles August
Polack, testifying under oath in the
United States District Court here to-
day. just about noon on January 81
Capt. Polack went into q Western
Union telegraph office In Hoboken. N.
J., and sent this message to First OF.
ficer Wurpts. Of the steamship:
Tell eetsreca sesrytbipst o. ~.
jackson.
That apparently innocent message
was the signal TO the chief officer and
the chief engineer to destroy the
secret code and other secret and dan
gerous documents on the ship and put
the engines out Of commission.
Had planned for months
II was the putting into effect OF an
agreement that had existed ever since
the earlier diplomatic crisis following
the torpedoing OF the Sussex. The
agreement had been reached upon the
order Of representative of the Ger
man government here, and the tele-
gram OF January 81 was sent at the
order OF q member Of the German EN-
bassy Todsy's hearing was before
Judge Morton on the petition for the
sael or the liner.
That the Kronprinzessen Cecilie had
been virtually wrecked began to be
known from the day that United States
Marshal Mitchell went on board with
q big police force to take sole posses
sion. II was assumed that the wreck
Ing was q part Of . general German
plan. but today's testimony was the
first formal proof Of it.
Capt. Polack talked with almost
amazing frankness. On only one point
did he hold back-the names of the
German government representatives
who had given him his orders. Asked |
this question, be turned to the court |
and said:
~Your Honor, am an officer of the !
German navy and IL l should have |,
given names In this hearing might !
be tried for high treason when got |
home ] ask that ] may not have to
give names"
There was some discussion OF the |
point. Edward E. Blodgett, attorney.
who examined Capt Polack. express
ing the wish that he might give the
names privately to. the court. But |
Judge Morton decided that the names !
could not be useful and might be harm,
full, and so the matter stood.
The hearing began at 9:45 q. m.
Attorney Blodgett first reading his
petition for the sale Of the liner be- i
cause Of the damage and depreciation
to her and the high cost OF mainten.
ance. and putting on Capt. Polack as
his first witness. Capt. Polack had /
been In charge OF the steamship since !
she had been tied up here. OF her
fun crew Of $40 only about 10 to 100 |
had been aboard during the last year,
more than enough to care for her I
but retained because of
length OF service with the company !,
and their inability from lack OF knowl-
edge Of English or physical defect TO
eet work elsewhere.
Record Of The Testimony
Mr. Blodgett's examination was rs follows:
q. In January you received certain orders
from your superior In reference to doing some.
hing IN regard tothe shipi Il
A. Yes.
A. On January 81 At the docks Of our
company In sHoboken. On January ~ had
IN anniversary celebration with friends. Then
was going 70 Hot Springs for fortnight
leaving the first officer in charge Of the ship.
ne office At Hoboken. Others present were
he superintendent Of The company Captain
Aoeiief. and representative Of the German
Of Strained Relations
The question Of the lstter's name then
.rose. After its adjustment the captain
vent on:
81 was in the office Of the superintendent
when the gentleman came in I was Just
sking leave Of the superintendent. The 9TH
II said: The relations between the two
countries arc being severed. The condition
Is very serious
al went 70 take my leave and 90 out. He