File No. 763.72111K92/44
The Secretary of State to the German Ambassador (Bernstorff)
Excellency: With reference to the German vessels and crews now interned in American ports, I have the honor to call your attention to the following facts relating to the escape from time to time of certain paroled officers and men from these vessels.
On October 10, 1915, six officers, Vizesteuermänner Heinrich Hoffmann, Heinrich Ruedebusch, Wilhelm Forstreuter, Erich Biermann, and Ing. Aspirants Julius Lustfeld and Walter Fischer, of the German cruiser Kronprinz Wilhelm, interned at Norfolk, Virginia, received permission to go ashore and to return by 8 a. m., October 11. These officers have not been seen since, and are supposed to have departed on board the yacht Eclipse, which was purchased by Vizesteuermann Hoffmann shortly before their departure.
On September 29, 1915, Marine Stabsarzt, Dr. Krüger-Kroneck, and Lieutenant zur See Koch, of the German cruiser Prinz Eitel Friedrich, were given permission to go on a visit to New York City and Niagara Falls and to return to their ship on October 16. These officers, however, have not returned to their ship and were seen in the Pennsylvania Railroad Station, New York City, on October 17.
[Page 840]The German cruiser Prinz Eitel Friedrich arrived in American jurisdiction on March 10, 1915, and was interned on April 9, 1915. On March 10, the commanding officer was directed to allow none of his officers or crew on shore for the present. The commander acknowledged the receipt of this notice and stated that he would act accordingly. On March 12 the commanding officer asked permission for his officers and men to go ashore, if they did not leave Newport News. On March 17, 1915, two days prior to the granting of the commander’s request, the executive officer, i. e., the second officer in command, Otto Brauer, left the ship. The Department now has reliable information that Brauer has returned to Germany and is on duty on board the cruiser Lutzow at Danzig.
Doctor Nolte was granted leave of absence from the Prinz Eitel Friedrich to go to Newport News and Old Point Comfort, Virginia, and return on May 13 last. Doctor Nolte has not, as yet, returned to his ship.
On or about June 14, 1915, Herman Deike, engineer officer of the Locksun, interned at Honolulu, left his ship and is yet absent in violation of his parole.
In view of the apparent disregard of these members of the complements of the interned vessels at Norfolk for their word of honor while on parole, the Navy Department, on October 14, 1915, was under the necessity of ordering that no officers or men be allowed to leave the ships until the absent officers and seamen had returned.
Notwithstanding this order, on October 15, 1915, two members of the crew of the Kronprinz Wilhelm attempted to board the Dutch steamship Maar Tensdyk at Newport News in an endeavor to escape. Seaman Sturm was apprehended and his companion, seaman Kasper, returned to the Kronprinz Wilhelm of his own volition. Also, on November 12, 1915, fireman Thiery was found absent from the Prinz Eitel Friedrich, at muster, having escaped from his ship.
The incidents related have occurred notwithstanding the fact that at the time of the internment of these vessels each commanding officer gave a pledge for “himself, officers, and crews not to commit any unneutral acts and not to leave limits prescribed in paroles.” I therefore regret to have to inform your excellency that the United States Government regards the actions of these men as contrary to its express instructions and as breaches of the honorable conduct to be expected of officers and men of visiting and interned ships of war of a belligerent nation, and that consequently the Government has been forced to discontinue the custom of paroling the interned officers and men on their honor and otherwise to circumscribe the very liberal privileges which they have heretofore been allowed to enjoy.
It will be recalled that during the Russo-Japanese war, when the Russian ship Lena was interned by United States authorities on the Pacific coast, three officers of that ship escaped and returned to Russia; and that upon the Government of the United States calling the matter to the attention of the Russian Government, it immediately caused the escaped officers to return to American jurisdiction where they were interned for the remainder of the war.
This precedent this Government regards as in accord with the best practice of nations and applicable to the cases which I have had the honor to present in this note.
[Page 841]I have no doubt, therefore, that upon your excellency’s calling these incidents to the attention of the Imperial German Government, that Government will promptly direct that Otto Brauer and any others of the men mentioned who may now be within German jurisdiction, or who may hereafter come within such jurisdiction, be promptly returned to this country for internment with their respective ships.
Accept [etc.]