Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-04-01
FIFTY AMER|CANSHELD
IN GERMAN PRISM CAMPS
Official Dispatches Cotflrm Story
About Men Taken i Raids
by the Moew
MOST OF THEM FROMONE SHIP
Two L. S. Seamen Releaed Because
They Were on Unarhed Vessel.
Washington Expected 70 Make De.
mand for Release OF Saiiors.
MOST OF THEM FROM ioNE SHIP
| By Associated PreA.l

Try Associated Pres,.l
WASHINGTON, March al.--oficial
dispatches from Copenhagen to-day
confirmed reports that two -merican
seamen had arrived there from Ger
others taken in raids by the commerce
raider Moewc were held in detention
camps. Reports from many sources
have convinced officials here that
steamer Esmeraldas arc held. AS yet
no reply has come to an inquiry sent
through the Spanish Foreign Office a
week ago az to whether there we're
captured.
Dispatches from Minister EGsn to-
day told OF the two seamcn reaching
Copenhagen. They were Alexander
Meyer and Jack Benson, taken from the
Norwegian bark Staut. They said that.
In addition TO fifty men from the
Esmeraldas. the Germans are OBTAINING
one from the British steamer Breck-
norshire. All. they said. are in a. de-
tcntion camp at Westphalia. The two
were released because they were on an
unarmeG ship.
This government. it i considered
certain, will make a vigorous demand
for the release OF the American sailors.
MINISTER EGAS TELLS
STORY or CAPTURE
Meyer and Benson said the S,aut
sailed from Norfolk. Va, in September
for the South Georgia Islands. Minis
lows:
The Staut was sighted by the Brit
ish ship st. Theodore on February :.
1917. which ship had been captured by
the Germans and was manned by Ger
man crew. 4 German officer boarded
the Steut and ordered the crew TO pack
up belongings and embark on the st.
Theodore. After embarking. 4 bomb
was placed in the main hatch OF the
Staut and she sank within twenty
minutes. The Staut carried sixteen
sailors and officers. Benson being the
only native American. and Meyer be-
Ing a naturalized citizen. They re-
:nained ten days on the st. Theodore.
and were then transferred to the Ger
man cruiser Moewe. and arrived AT
kiel March u, having been foJty-
three days on the Mocwe. Benson and
Meyer were confined below while on
the Moewc. but knew whenever 4 ship
had been sunk or torpcdoed by the
new prisoners.
According TO Benson the British
schooner Jean had already been tor
pedoed and also the Radnorshirc. the
Royal Mail boat. with n crew OF eighty
eight men, and tho Netherby Ila!l. with
crew OF forty men The Staut was
captured with it's sixteen men. AZ
terwards, the British Ecknorshire was
captured with eighty eight men. in
Guiding one American. from Seattle.
British steamer Eddy. with twenty
four men, British steamer French
Prince, with thirty-nine men: british
steamer Rodenta with twenty-nine
men: British steamer Katherine. with
twenty-seven men; British steamer
Otacka was captured after fight.
eight men being killed.
FIFTY AMERICANS
ON THE ESMERALDAs
THE Pacific Steam Navigation boat
IGlysium Meralda CEsmeraldas). from
Liverpool. having delivered American
horses, captured with il6 men, nifty Of
them Americans One man, named
Smith. had army discharge. Steam
er Governor captured after fight. five
men being killed, and steamer Demer-
ditan captured with thirty-five men.
Benson and Meyer were released to
Copenhagen after remaining on the
Moewe for three days In the harbor oil
Kiel. The remaining Americans taken
| Oft the Moewe and believed were sent
| Westphalia."
Although the dispatch as received
here gave the name Of the ship from
which most OF the Americans were
taken as Elysium Meralda. officials
| thought 1t was an error in transmits
sion. and that Esmeraldas was meant