The sun., 1917-02-18
SHIP DISABLED
BEFORE BREAK
Capt. POlack Says He Got
Orders in HObOken on
January 81.
PLAN MATCHED IN APRIL
Skipper Begs Court Not to
Compel Him to Give Name
Of Secret Agent.
PLAN MATCHED IN APRIL

BosToN. Feb. 1.-THE North German
Lloyd passenger liner kronprinzessin
Cecilie while in the custody Of United
States marshal under libel order from
the Federal Court was deliberately dis
abled at the direction Of her German
commander.
Capt. Charles A. Polack SO testified
in the United States District Court to.
day, and added that he. in turn, had
taken his orders from the German Govern
ment. The damage to the vessel was
done on the night Of January 81, three
days before diplomatic relations between
the United States and Germany were
broken off. Under examination by coun-
sci for the lbellants. Capt. Polack said
that on that day he had received orders
to render his vessel unseaworthy from
an unnamed official OF the German EN-
bassy at Washington.
1t was a dramatic moment when the
witness was asked the name OF this Of
fetal. He hestated and then turning to
the court made this plea
Your Honor, I am an officer OF the
German navy and II should have to
disclose the name OF the gentleman in
this hearing might be tried for treason
when / went home TO Germany | wish
you would not oblige me 10 answer that
question"
Point Not Pressed.
Judge James NJ. Morton. Jr.. conferred
privately with counsel for the libelants
and the owners Of the Kronprinzessin
Ca-ile for a few minutes and then an
uounced that as the attorneys for the
plaintiffs were not disposed to press the
point the court would not insist upon an
answer. as no good purpose would be
served thereby and particularly as the
reply might be of momentous importance
TO the witness.
Questioned by Attorney Edward F.
Bledgett, counsel for the lbellants, Capt.
Polack said that last spring. soon after
the steamer Sussex was sunk. he was
summoned to New York by his COM
pany's Office and introduced to gentle
man who said he represented the Ger
man Government. This man told him
that trouble had arisen between the
United States and Germany and 1t was
about time for him to destroy the ships
papers He was warned that his ship
should not fall into hostile hands.
In subsequent questioning Attorney
Blodgett insisted that the witness hal
spoken OF "ships" instead of a ship, the
inference being that the captain had re-
ceived orders also to have the two other
vessels of his line tied up here. the Koln
and the Wittekind, damaged. The wit
ness was positive that the official had
spoken only of his own ship. but Judge
Morton intervened to say that he also
had understood the witness as speaking
Of ships. Capt. Polack. however. re-
peated that he had reference only to his
own vessel.
Returning to Boston he arranged with
his chief officer and chief engineer for
the disabling Of the ship upon the re-
caipt OF code telegram. which he was
to send. On January 2S he started for
Hot Springs, Ark, but stopped over in
New York. During his stay there he
received his orders to damage the ship.
and on January 81 despatched the mes
sage agreed upon to his first officer. Re
turning to Boston that night he found
the chief engineer engaged in Gripping
the machinery.
Got Orders In HoEoken.
Mr. Blodgett asked when and where
he received his orders and the witness
replied 'On January 81 at the docks of
our company in Hoboken. was in the
Offices just before noon. Others present
were the superintendent OF the company.
Capt, Moller, and representative OF
the German Government. was already
In the Office Of the superintendent when
the latter gentleman came in"
The question of the identity of this
gentleman was then disposed Of after
which the witness continued: II was
just taking leave of the superintendent
when the other gentleman said The re-
lations between the two countries are
being severed. The condition is very
serious
II then again asked permission to 20,
but he said You are to remain here
and did Now shall we do what has
] asked, and he answered Yes
Some time ago when the Sussex case
was up and difficulties arose between the
United States and Germany our vessel
was in Boston and ] was asked to come
to New York to the company's office.
II went to the company's Office and
they said to me You shall meet gem
tleman who has something to say to
YOU A minute later the gentleman
stepped into the room and said. I am
acting for our Government | knew
him and said, 4 thought So
"He then said to me- AS these difficult
ties have arisen 1t is about time to de-
stroy your secret codes. secret papers
and everything pertaining to the plans
Of the ship so that II something should
happen they will not fall into the hands
Of any hostile Power.
"You are to understand that the ship
Ia not to fall into the hands Of any hos
tile Power so they could use It for a
long length of time"
Attorney Blodgett then asked:
"Did you go into detail as to the In
juries which were to be done:"
The captain replied. mo"
"What arrangements did you make for
damaging the vessel?" was next asked.
Capt. Polack replied:
when I came back from New York
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