File No. 763.72111Ap4/118
The Secretary of the Treasury (McAdoo) to the Counselor for the Department of State (Polk)
Dear Mr. Polk: The collector of customs at Norfolk has just called me on the telephone and given me the following information:
The S. S. Appam, 4,761 tons, net register, owned by the British and African Steamship and Navigation Company, Ltd., Elder-Dempster Company, of Liverpool, agents, passed in the Virginia Capes early to-day, flying the German naval ensign and dropped anchor at Fortress Monroe about 8 a. m. The Appam left Liverpool on November 17 for Callabar, West Africa. On her return voyage to England she was captured by a foreign vessel, in charge of Germans. This was said to be the seventh vessel to have been captured by said iron [sic] vessel. A German prize crew was placed aboard the Appam to the number of 22 men. Lieutenant Berg of the German Navy was in charge of the prize crew and is now in command of the Appam. Later the Appam captured another vessel.1 There are a total of 431 people on board the Appam, including about 20 people taken from the vessel captured by the Appam. This captured vessel was sunk by the Appam according to best advices at this time. When [Page 723] the Appam was first captured there were 138 people placed aboard of her from the capturing vessel, these people being from seven vessels which had been previously captured and sunk. There are on board of the Appam four men who will have to go to the hospital. The Appam is equipped with wireless apparatus.
In view of the circumstances, will you please advise me what instructions I shall give the collector of customs at Norfolk.
By direction of the Secretary.
Very truly yours,
Assistant Secretary
- A later communication of the same day contained the correction that this vessel “was captured by the same vessel that captured the Appam subsequent to the Appam’s capture” and the addition: “Commander Berg states he was placed abord the Appam with orders to bring that vessel to Hampton Roads.” (File No. 763.72111 Ap4/119.)↩