The Washington times., 1917-04-01
GRIM GAME OF TAG
HAS RAIDER AS 'IT'
German SeeadIer Lost Fourteen
of Crew During Atlantic
Foray, Refugees Report.

masted sailing vessel, lying norwegian
colors.
The vessel was the Germain raider
Seealder. Its full toll Of ships has
probably not yet been told. but sur
vivors arriving at Rio on board the
French ship Cambronne reported eleven
vessels sunk by the psuedo-Norwegian
And as yet the Seeadler has not been
located.
There were 265 survivors from the
Cambronne-two Of them women. They
were from British, French, and italian
ships. All grudgingly expressed ad-
miraton for the audacity OF the Ger
man sea rover's tactics.
Between the time she left Germany
and turned her prisoners over to the
French steamer Cambronne, the See
adder lost fourteen OF her crew, &C
cordIng to refugees from the cap
tured Gounod.
The Gounod refugees said that
when they were taken aboard the
raider, the Seeadler was manned by
German crew of fifty.
Had Crew of sixty-four.
The seeadler's captain later related
that she had a crew of sixty-four
when she left Germany. What had
become of the missing was not told.
The Seeadler 'displaces $500 tons,
and her two heavy guns are so
mounted that she is able TO shoot In
but two directions. She carried sew
eral rapid-fire machine guns. Her
commander said she was escorted
from her German port to Iceland by
submarines, and that the Kafser and
crown prince were the only persons
in Germany, excepting those aboard,
who knew of the cruise.
Many tons of petroleum went into
the raiders engines daily. and when
she transferred prisoners to the Cam
bronne she had 1900 tons in reserve,
said one of the refugees.
SheIIed the Gangways.
The raider shelled the gangways
of her victims as their crews were
disembarking, said refugees. In one
instance a sailor lost an, eye and died
following an operation.
The Seeadler, a three-masted YES
sci with a speed of eleven to twelve
knots, is armed with heavy guns and
machine guns, and is equipped with
an excellent wireless plant, two naph-
tha launches, and underwater sound
ing apparatus enabling her to detect
other vessels at long ranges.
THE raider appeared northwest OF
us at 1880 in the morning, March 90"
said the captain of the Cambronne.
1--WE were POLO south and 2S:05 west,
travelling in a northwestern direction,
when the raider appeared and at two
mile range hoisted the signals %. I.
d. the Spanish signal for listen A
shot whizzed across our bow.
"The Cambronne halted and was
boarded by a German officer, who in
structed me to visit the raiders cap
tai1. The captain told me he in
tended to sink the Cambronne, but
changed his mind, removed me from
command, and turned the Cambronne
into the care OF an Englishman, Capt.
John Muller.
THE Germans aboard the Cam
bronze disabled her so sire could just
crawl along. The raiders prisoners
were then transferred, and after the
Germans jettisoned fifty tons of salt
petre from the Cambronne she was
ordered to Rio"
Skipper. Gives Parole.
The captain of the Duplex, which
fell victim of the Seeadler, March 8,
said that before he land his fellow
prisoners were released from the
raider they were forced to promise
not to participate further in the war.
Though sick" he said, 81 was
treated without the slightest consid-
Grafton.
"a false flag enabled the raider to
approach very close without detec-
tIon," said the captain of the Gou-
nod, "and once within range, she
threatened to shoot forthwith. Pris-
-
PEELED to do all the work, thus en-
abling the German crew to be used
for lighting"
The majority of the refugees said
they were kindly treated, but were
amazed when reaching land to learn.
that the war was still in statu quo,
having been told that Germany had
almost completely vanquished her
enemies.
Russia, they were told, was. dis
membered: France crushed, with
millions of Germans roaming over it
at will.
Germans Pay Prisoners.
The German captain paid the pris-
oners for their work, and, incensed
when a Dutch cook spat contemptu-
ousIy when rendered $50 marks in
over to the Cambronne.
The raiders crew included mu-
sicians, who made splendid entertain
ment during days of inactivity.
The refugees said German-Ameri-
cans were treated with special con
sideration. This is the only reference
made concerning North Americans.
The total of tonnage sunk by the
Seeadler, according to lists furnished
by survivors, is $3.50. There was
considerable variance I'm the stories
Of the actual Seeadler victims. a num-
Der of survivors declaring that the
raider opened fire without previous
warning, while others said she hoisted
the German flag in place of her Nor
wegian ensign and warned the ships
that crews must leave at once.
Tonight the 2S3 survivors were still
held aboard the Cambronne, pending
completion OF the Brazilian authori-
ties decision as to the fate OF the
Cambronne.