Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-04-02
INQUIRY INTO
CAPT. FRYATTS
CASE is BEGUN
Investigation of Execu-
ton is Started in
Germany.

Berlin, Tuesday, April 1.-(By
the Associated Press - An in
vestigation into he case of Cap
tain Cha<les Fryatt, of the British
mercantile marine. who was exc
cuted by the Germans in 1916, aft
er his conviction by a German
to ram the German submarine
court martial of having attempted
U-33 with his vessel, was begun
today by a national court martial
Representatives of various govern
ments attended and a large num-
Der of witnesses, including Captain
Dancer of the U-33, who appeared
for examination
The investigating commission is
composed of Professor Schuecking.
chairman Prince Car
olath, privy councillor: Herr Eek
ert of the foreign office: Colonel
Fransz Eichart and Major Richter
or the war ministry and Captain
NanselIow of the navy. The for
eIgn governments represented were
Great Britain. France, Norway and
Holland, which is represented by
Chevalier Van Rappard, the minis
ter here.
Occurred in 1915.
Attorney Rochal for the commits
sion gave a declaration of the Fry
att case. According to this re-
port the English steamer Brussels.
under command of Captain Fry
att. encountered the submarine
U-33 under command of Lieutenant
Captain Gauffer, on March rs, 1915.
eight miles west of the Mas
Lightship off the coast of Holland
1t was alleged that Captain Fry
att attempted to ram the subma-
rine. Captain Fryatt and the Brus-
sells were captured by the Germans
in June. 1916. The captain was
first ordered confined at Ruhleben.
Later he was brought before
court martial at Bruges. found
guilty and executed
Tried to Dodge U-Boat.
Statements made by Captain
Fryatt and several British officers
at the court martial were then
read. Fryatt maintained that he
tried to get away from the subma-
rine. German officers testified.
however. that the log of the Brus-
sells contained this entry:
When | saw him, 1 steered di-
rectly for him"
British and American notes of
protest against the decision of the
court martial were read. The at
torney explained that Great Bri-
tain had complained that the Unit
ed States had not been permitted
legal representation at the court
martial. although the United States
was then in charge of the British
interests in Germany. The Ger
man government. however, would
permit the defendant to have but
one attorney. who was present in
the person of Major Naumann of
Bruges.
Steered for Sub. Claim.
Attorney RochaI then read this
excerpt from the testimony at the
court martial:
THE first witness. Dancer, tes-
titled that the U-33 sighted steam
er while about to submerge and
signalled it to stop instantly on
pain of a shot from the submarine.
The Brussels, however, he said,
evidently had seen the submarine
first and made directly for it, get
ting up steam as it advanced. Dan
ger said he tried to get the sub
marine out of the way without sub
merging again 1t was impossible
to discharge a torpedo because the
submerge and the U-boat sank 50
steamer was only $50 yards away.
Another officer gave the order to
feet in two minutes. The crew, il
was testified. saw the shadow of
the British steamer pass over !