BRITAIN SEES HUMOUR OF THE INCIDENT.

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

BRITAIN SEES HUMOUR OF THE INCIDENT.

RAIDER MAY HAVE BEEN ARMED IN AMERICAN PORT. STOKY OF BIG BATTEBY SCOUTED. LONDON, February 3. As the mystery surrounding the seizure of the steamer Appam is slowly being dissipated the humour oi the incident is dawning upon the people of Britain. Very great satisfaction is felt at the safety of the passengers and crew, some o! their relatives having already gone into mourning before the news was received that the vessel had reached port. It is announced that the Appam had bullion aboard valued at £40,00!). The mystery of the Moewe's origin is as deep as that surrounding the raiders present whereabouts. The story that the Moewe came from the Kiel Canal, flying a neutral l!ag. is probably German blurt. The same may be .-.ai.i of the statement to the effect that she was carrying a battery of hugf g"ns, including one lOin weapon. The Koe-aes port of register was apparently Bremen. She is of toes, and Captain Berg was her commander before the war. The serrctary of the Elder Dempster Line states that it was rumoured a fortnight ago that a German ship had been interned at the Canaries, and had escaped. Other representatives of the mercantile marine scorn the suggestion that the Moewe left Germany and escaped the vigilance of the British Navy. They say it is much more probable that the Germans armed the ship in an obscure American port. A message from Xew York reports that Lieutenant Berg, of the Moewo, told Mr. Hamilton, collector or customs, that the Moewe sank the steamer Farringford, which was carrying 5.000 tons of copper, on January 10. He also captured the Corbrrdge and pu« a prize crew aboard. The steamer was carrying 6,000 tons of coal, and 600 tons were transferred to the Moewe to fill her bunkers. The lieutenant states that the Moewe encountered the steamer Dromonby. carrying 5,000 terns oi coal. The vessel offered no resistance and was sunk with another vessel carrying 5.000 tons of wheat and a trader with 6.000 tons of sugar. Tie Moewe sank the Ariadne on January 15. She carried 5,000 tons at wheat. The raider approached the Appam on January 16, sixty miles north of Madeira. The German boat was flying the British flag and exchanged salutes with the Appam. When the Moewe was near enough to cross the Appam'a bows she hoisted the German flag. The Clan Mactavish -was next -engaged and sank after an exciting fight, during which the Appam, which was miles away, returned and rescued four of the crew of the Clan Mactavish, who were struggling in the water.

Lieutenant Berg states that he then, ordered the head of the Appam to be turned in the direction of America. Sbe used an unfrequented route and flew the British flag until the three-mile limit had been reached.

Lieutenant Berg states that as a mercantile captain he visited Norfolk several times as a. subordinate officer on the Moewe.

Besides the Kew Zealand cargo, the Clam Mactavish. one of the ships sunk by the German raider in the North Atlantic, took Jargp consignments of general cargo from various Australian porta, including 5.126 bales of wool. The ships ■sras valued at £140/100 and her cargo at £350.000.