APPAM'S CAPTAIN TELLS STORY OF CAPTURE.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 30, 4 February 1916, Page 5

APPAM'S CAPTAIN TELLS STORY OF CAPTURE.

BATTEEY OF HTTGE GUNS ON THS jIOEWX. (Bj Cable.—Press Association.—CopTrJznt.) NEW YOKE. February 3. The German raider Hoewe. which captured the liner Appam. placed a prize crew of 22 aboard under the command of Lieutenant Berg. Alter the fight with the Clan iLactavish a portion of the Utters meat cargo -β-aa appropriated. The crew were placed on the Appam. Lieutenant Berg states that the crews of the other vessels gunk were transferred to the Appam. The Clan Mactavish made a great fight. Fifteen of her crew were killed. When the Moewe came up with the Appam she fired a single shot across the liners bows. The ippam did not resist, and was taken due west across the Atlantic. When approaching Fortress Monroe, on the coast ot Virginia, the Appam in reply to a wireless inquiry- stated that she was a German. cruiser. When she "reached port she carried a single 3in gun. Whether the gun was aboard originally or was mounted by the Germans is nnknown. The Embassy does not know Lieutenant Berg. It is supposed he belongs to the German auxiliary service. it is stated that the Moewe is a survey ship from KieL She is said to have cruised in the North Sea under the Swedish flag, to have flown the British. flag in the Atlantic, and to have hoisted the German, flag -when, approaching the Appam. When war the line she dropped her dummy sides, displaying her armament. The Appam arrived flying the German flag. She had fcirelve men from the crew of a submarine on board. • After the Appam was captured she was armed, and captured two Bntisa ■vessels en route to America, which were disposed of. It is expected that the men from the submarine aboard the Appam win elect to be interned instead of risking capture on the return voyage. Captain Harrison, of the Appam, tells a story stranger than fiction. The W was travelling at a fair speed in bright daylight. She sighted what seemed to be an ordinary tramp. "The stranger closed in," said Captam Harri-on 'but we did not fear danger. Suddenly the 'tramp' fired a shot across" our bows. I hove to. The trsnrpV forecastle head fell away revealing a battery of huge guns. We surrendered, and a prize crew b°-xded» under cover of the raider's guns. They disarmed the crew and locked them m the cabin* They then liberated 20 German prisoners, who thereupon ™ ZP crew '.Many prisoners from vessels previously sunk were transferred to the Appam. Our' passengers and crew were exercised a few at a tone, and ihave no complaint to make of their treatment." mere is no steamer bearing the name Peg* in either Lloyd's or the German register.