New Britain herald., 1917-02-17
GERMAN EMBASSY
ORDERED STEAMER
MACHINERY BROKEN
Captain Of KronprinZessin Ceciie
Admits Receiving Instructions
From Kaiser's Representative
WILL NOT GIVE NAME
FOR FEAR OF TREASON

L
Says He Is Officer of Imperial Navy
and to Reveal Identity of Person
Who Gave Him Orders Would Be
Treacherous-Berlin Hand in
Making Interned Liners Useless
Clearly Disclosed.
Boston, Feb. 17.-Charles A. Po-
lack of the North German Lloyd
steamship kronprinzessin Ceciie, tes-
| titled today. at the hearing on Pc
tition for the sale Of the vessel. that
| he had been ordered by man con-
nected in official capacity with the
German embassy. to disable its ma
chinery. This was done. he said. to
present the ships use by this govern
ment in the event of hosulities with
Germany. He refused to divulge the
name OF the man giving the order.
Captain Polack said he was in Ho-
boken, n. J., when he received the
engineer here to disable the engines.
The work of destruction was done on
Jan. 81. and Feb. l. he said.
Fears Trial for Treason.
When asked by counsel for the
petitioners to give the name of the
person from whom the order was re-
ceived Captain Polack said:
" Your honor. I am an officer of
the German navy and If I should have
to disclose the name of this gentle
| man in this hearing. I might be tried
for treason when I went home to
Germany. / wish you would not
oblige me to answer that question"
The question was not pressed and
Judge Morton decided that it would
not be necessary for the captain to
answer at this time. e
Captain Polack said he met the
embassy official in January at the
North German Lloyd offices in Ho-
boken. The orders to disable the ship
We're given at that time in. the pres
ence Of Captain Moller supcrintend-
ent of the company's lines in this
country he testified Captain Polack
was preparing to visit Hot Springs
Va, at the time, but changed his
plans and returned to this city.
Continuing his testimony the cap
tain declared that the embassy off,
cial said to him.
The relations between the two
countries are being severed and the
condition is very serious"
The witness testified that he in
! quired whether the machinery was to
be disabled Immediately andsthat he
received an affirmative answer, Can
tain Moller, he said, did not take a
share in this part of the conversation
known As "Gold Ship
The Kronprinzessin Cecilie is in DOS
session of United States Marshal John
j. Mitchell, pending the determine
ton of suit for damages brought
against the North German Lloyd
Steamship company by the Guaranty
Trust company and the National City
Bank of New York for. the failure of
the vessel to deliver a shipment of gold
| to bankers in England and France
which she had on board at the out
break of the war. After sailing from
New York the liner turned back and
| put into Bar Harbor, Me.
| The vessel was seized at Bar Harbor.
Me-, November 1914. After the crew
| 4CAC SiC NCooOA AICA e IcCcHlly, I'LL cAd1u-
! ination by experts showed that the
machinery had been so damaged that
it could not be repaired and made
ready for sea for several months
Polack Explains in Detail.
! Outlining in detail his actions, Cap
| tain Polack said: Some time ago
about the time the Sussex case was UP
| and when difficulties had arisen be-
| tween Germany and America l was
| asked I'd go to New York. 1t was an
| invitation from the companys office.
] was told told that I was to meet a
gentleman wha wanted to speak to
me. I knew the gentleman. He told
| me that since difficulties had arisen
here he thought it was about time tina
1 should destroy the secret code Of the
vessel, her plans and secret books in
order that in case of hostilities they
should not fall into hostile hands and
| so that the ship could not be used for
any length of time if they should be
| needed by any hostile power.
when I returned from New York
I spoke to my chief officer and my
chief engineer that I would leave 1t
entirely to him to do what he thought
necessary to do to disable the engines
Of the ship. l told my chief officer
that when l was not on board and he
received a telegram from me, the