File No. 763.72111K92/60
The Ambassador in Germany (Gerard) to the Secretary of State
[Received February 20, 5.40 p. m.]
3508. Department’s 2525, December 22, 3 p. m. Foreign Office reports that escape of officers and men from German auxiliary cruisers Kronprinz Wilhelm and Prinz Eitel Friedrich at present interned in American ports has been brought to attention of German naval administration. According to investigations made by latter, the commanders of the two auxiliary cruisers unfortunately failed to sufficiently instruct their officers and crews regarding significance of the “assurance” given by them; moreover the expression “pledge” chosen by Rear Admiral Beatty in his letter to the commanders does not conform absolutely to the idea of “word of honor” The persons who escaped, therefore, were obviously convinced that they would not, through their act, render themselves guilty of a breach of their word of honor.
The German Government acknowledges the fact, however, that the members of the crew—and only they—who escaped after the “assurance” of the commanders had been given on April 13 and May 5, 1915, respectively, were in the wrong towards the American Government, and that they are to be sent back to their vessels. Of the persons mentioned in the note of the American Government to the German Ambassador at Washington of November 16, 1915, No. 1661,1 the following are therefore concerned: Marine-Stabsarzt Krüger-Kroneck, Leutnant zur See Koch, Doctor Nolte, Vize-Steuermann der Reserve Hoffmann, Vize-Steuermann der Reserve Ruedebusch, Vize-Steuermann der Reserve Forstreuter, Vize-Steuermann der Reserve Biermann, Ingenieur-Aspirant der Reserve Lustfeld, Ingenieur-Aspirant der Reserve Fischer, Heizer Thierry. Of these persons, only Stabsarzt Krüger-Kroneck has so far returned to Germany. He will be instructed to return to his vessel as soon as safe-conduct for his return to America has been obtained from the hostile governments.
The German Government states expressly that by the return on board his ship of Stabsarzt Krüger-Kroneck the question is not touched whether his release later on may not have to be granted in accordance with the Hague convention regarding the application of the rules of the Geneva convention to naval warfare.