The Waterbury Democrat., 1946-01-26
NOxi Skipper Sad to Leorn Ship Die
 Tells pEiax EugeA's
 Escape AtvealuFe
 To NoEWaY SeARoEls

Boston, 1Ata. &os~~kOE4-Ale SoAS snoken Naai skipper of the German heavy cruiser Prinze Engen said to- dav it was sad to think hts ship was to be demolished In Atomic bomb tests this spring, but that he would be ~extremely interested" In resalss of the experiments
 In on exclusive interview With the United Press, Capt. Hans kelil- icke said it was doubly sad to see his ship blown Co bits because ne had planned with Adolf Hitler its historic escape through the kaigiiso Channel in February, les2. with the pocket battleships Shcarnhorst and 0neisenau.
 "A sailor becomes married to his ship. you know," he said In flawiess English, Tt gives him a bad feeling to know that it Is to be destroyed I suppose it's useful but still I am sorry about it"
 Interested In Outcome
 However, I do think it Will change Naval warfare in the fu- ture," he said. "Tn fact I'll be ex- tremely interested to know what happens as result of the tests"
 Capt. Reinicke said he had heard rumors in Germany that the Prinz Edlgen was to be used in the Atomic bomb tests, but wasn't sure of the purpose of the trip to the UnitsG States until now. The Prin8 Eugen. with 547 German crew members supervised by American Naval per- sonnel, arrived here yesterday frols Portsmouth, England.
 Then, in a reverent and retro spective tone one might use in talking of a loved one about to die. Capt. Reinicke told of how he piot- ted with his Fuehrer in a desperate effort to save the three vessels So as to carry on losing fight"
 Nazis Would Lose Anyhow
 Sitting in his quarters aboard the Prinz Eugen-behind a desk on which stood the framed picture of his wife and two children-Capt. Reinicke talked of the Atom bomb. He said even if German scientists had perfected the Atomic bomb before the Allies he didn't believe the Nazis would have won.
 It was a personal conference with Adolf Hitler at the Feuhrers head quarters that the plan was made At the time, Capt Reinicke. said, he was Chief of Staff to Vice-Ad- miral Otto Ciliax, commander of the Scharnhorst.
 We might have brought the 5h@ sl to their knees, but your res~ frees and manpower would have proved too much for us in the end" he said.
 We drove to Hitler's headquaf ters by a secret route in a closed car with the curtains drawn in the windows. The Fuehrer said .he dash must be made at all costs 50 that our vessels would be in Nor way to divert English ships there.
 Trip Was Dangerous
 'I told the Feuhrer the tri1 would be dangerous. He said NC could go around England. but that speed was essential. We finally agreed to make the channel dash despite the danger"
 Capt. Reinicke said that Hitler was more concerned with the Army than the Navy, but that he realized Naval operations were important :c the overall plan of war.
 Hitler, he said, was sure that the vessels would have no trouble slip ping through the Channel because he believed the English "easy to fool"
 At the outset. Hitler appeared correct since they travelled for some time without encountering an en- emy plane. off Dover, he said. a single plane spotted the three ves- sels.
 Then for i-2 hours the British bombers attacked as the Nazi crafs raced for Norway. Capt. Reinickc said that the poor flying conditions as much as anything else helped the German ships to survive. Even so, he added, there were some sef- ious hits.
 Capt. Reinicke, whose wife and children now live at Wilhelnlsha- ven, said he expected to remain with the PTinz Elgen in the United States until exhaustive preliminary Atom bomb tests are completed. During the war. he said. his family lived in Berlin. but their house. like much of the city, was des- troyed by air raids.