MERCHANTMEN AT SEA

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15685, 12 August 1914, Page 8

MERCHANTMEN AT SEA

BRITISH CRUISERS' PRIZES.

THE KRONPRINZ WILHELM.

HER CAPTURE REPORTED. New York, August 10.

The s.s. Narragansett, belonging to the Anglo-American Oil Company, reports having overheard a wireless conversation between the British cruiser Essex and another vessel to the effect that the cruiser had just captured the big North German Lloyd Atlantic liner Kronprinz Wilhelm.

It is stated that the Essex was taking the steamer to Bermuda as a prize.

. The Kronprinz Wilhelm is a vessel ol 14,908 tone gross, and is 'fitted with wireless telegraphy and submarine signalling apparatus. She was built in 1901 at Stettin. Her length is 637 ft 3in, breadth 66ft 3in, and depth 39ft 3in, while her engines are of 3534 nominal horse-power. The Essex belongs to the Monmouth class of cruiser, and was launched in 1903. She has a normal displacement of 9800 tons with a complement of 678 all told. Hei length (water line) is 440 ft, beam 66ft, ana mean draught 24Jft. She has a speed oi 24 knots, and is armed with 26 guns, from three-pounders to 6in, and is" also fittad with two tubmerged torpedo tubes. The cruiser is propelled by two sets of triple expansion engines, driving twin screws, and of 22,000 designed horse-power.

STEAMER'S RICH CARGO.

A MILLION IN SPECIE.

(EftceiTed Austirf 11, 11.45 p.m.) London, August 10.

Advice has been received that a British cruiser captured the Hamburg-South American Company's steamer Cap Ortegal, a vessel of 7818 tons.

Her cargo included £1,000,000 in specie. . The prize is presumed to have been secured in Brazilian waters.