The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-02-18
captain of kronprinzessin Ce-
ellie Says Ship Was Dam
aged at E.mbassy's Order
CRAFT INJURED WHILE
IN COURTS CUSTODY
Will Cost $4,000 to Repair
; Visible Damage-Comman-
der Of German Liner Frankly
Tells Story Of Action

the ScfIn9n embassy ordered the
engines and machinery Of the
North German Lloyd steamship
kronprinxessin Cccflic disabled
when diplomatic relations be-
tween Germany and United States
seemed at the breaking point.
This WAS sworn to today by
Captain Charles A. PolacL, OF the
Cscilie. He was the principal
witness at the federal hearings
here on q petition for the sale OF
the vessel. Captain Poarck said
that tho work Of destruction was
done on january 81 and on
February to prevent the use of
The fast liner ny the United StatCs
government In the event Of hos
Utilities with Germany. He re-
fn~cd to divuigc the name of the
German embassy official who Is
sued tho orders that the engines
and machinery bc ruined.
Wo,,ldn, Divnlgr Name
y our honor" he said to the court,
am an offieer OF the German
avy. and II | should have to disclose
he name of this gentleman in this
ear,n- might he tried for treason
her { 70 home to Germany. wish
on r-oIld not obli=e me 20 answer
hat question"
IS 81 Norton declined TO allow the
aestion 20 sc pressed
Captain Pelack said hc was in Ho-
oiea wan h~ received the order to
tsaaa ;fc cng s~S OF his steamer.
: j3,., sctiia,elS sent the following
J.. SismGnd Bierens, his
hie' on scr
4.. .ttrSou" everything O. X"
" ~ 4
aosl because It had been agreed upon
al on rs receipt he engines were TO
E ruined.
leii~ OF Meeting ofttciai.
Japan Poiack SAID he met the
IN OF the German embassy at the
II CO OF The North German Lloyd
ne "a Hoboken. n J. The order
a. given in the presence of Captain
Eoiler, superintendent Of the line.
Re diplomatic represe alive said to
I'M Captain polack testified;
The relations b etwecn the two
aartvios are being severed and the
or6ilion ~ very serious"
aac witness asked If the engines
.ie to be put out Of commission
lmvii ately, and received an stfirma-
W answer Captain Moller, he said.
lit not participate In the conversa"
Sc
IS ed 4 he had told the enAaass.r
tnciai that The Cecilie had been IL
Filled ana was then in possession of
be United States district court. Cap
hin Polack said ne had not ana Ii
I'D not occur TO him 10 say so.
As soon as he sent the Peterson"
lesram. Captain polsek said he took
he train for Boston, arriving that
anne night, He went aboard the
eciiie and personally saw the men
sa bling the machinery in the en-
ne ran.r.-
Il do not know what Was done or
|ow they did IT," he testitied. " All I
NOV is that | received a report from
ne engineers that the engines were
,t OF com mission. All orders were
raj, We never did anything in
|riting"
State Inspector on Stand
Franklin G. Wright, state inspcc-
br of boilers. testified that when he
ent aboard the Cecilie on February
at the direction of the marshal
found the name plates on parts
the engines missing. There was
title water in the boilers, no steam
as up. and the pumps had been
opped Valves were closed and
ghtened with wrenches. No wrench
were available that would open
be valves. The lighting plant also
as out of commission.
Wright asked the chief engineer TO
below with him.
Aren't you in charge OF the ship"
hot back the German officer.
Yes" replied the Inspector
Then, why in HI should 60 be-
~ with you?'' asked the chief en-
neer
Tried to Hide Extent OF Damage.
Wright said that an attempt was
ade to hide the extent of the dam
re- with canvas. He said the cylin-
FRS were wrecked, the throttle valve
rilled out. and the main starboard
hrottle had been wrecked.
Wright said there was strong
dor Of acid in the ships hold and an
npty bottle was found in the engine
pom.
Stuart Murphy, marine surveyor,
Kid that II would require $4,000
repair the visible damage to the
asseI and that 1t would take six
onths or more. As she Ia now. he
i'd. the vessel is worth between So
Sd. 900 and $4,000, 700.
Counsel for the owners asked the
dre to postpone action on the petit
on for the sale for two weeks. II
a. explained that a cablegram had
sen sent to the directors of the
orth German Lloyd line at Bremen,
~ 80 far as he knew 1t had not yet
zen delivered.
The Judge was requested to appoint
man to assess the damage to tho
her.
Prompt Bond Required. s's''s@
Judge Morton said that he
could not consider the damage at
t1,ie time, bat would take Nd that
end OF the case on March 2. He
osv3ered the owners to furnish q
fContiuued on Second Paee.)