CAPTURE OF THE APPAM

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2700, 21 February 1916, Page 5

CAPTURE OF THE APPAM

PASSENGERS'STORIES MOEWE GOT OUT OF KIEL CANAL Br Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright London, February 18. A hundred of the Appam's passengers have arrived. Mr. Billingham, a goldminer, in his diary, states that the Clan Mactavish fired seven and the Moewe four shots in a running battle on January 18. The German commander sent a message to Captain Merewother, stating that all passengers who gave their ivord of honour i not to take up arms against Germany during the war would be conveyed .to their destination. Captain Merewether recommended everybody to sign, as there was no alternative. On .January 30 Mr. Billing Ham wrote: "Our coal cannot last much longer, and there are provisions for only five days more. It seems strange that wo have been roaming about the Atlantic for two weeks without a British ship coming to our assistance.' "Lieutenant Berg told_ us that the Moewe got out of the Kiel Canal in a fog on New Year's Day ? and passed British warships, who .signalled and asked if she had seen any Germans. The Moewe replied, 'No,' and wished tho British a happy New Year. Throughout the Moewe-was communicated with as though she was an ordinary British trader. "There has been a rumour that the passengers of the Appam met in the lounge and decided to take over tho Ship, and wipe out tho German crew. I did not hear of it. "When the Germans ordered the Appam to stop, the German prisoners from the Cameroons, realising thatthe.v were about to be released, smashed the doors of the cabins where' tlioy were confined. Wo had to give up our firearms, knives, and telescopes. They even took our golf sticks, and one man took a sjambok from another." A Liverpool passenger states that tho Germans launched two boats filled with men, armed with revolvers and other firearms. When the Germans boarded the Appam, they ordered tho officers from the bridgo, and said they would not sink the ship. "We saw the Clan Miictavish sink bow first. Some of the'crew reached us in small boats, including the injured lascars. Our rations were very low. For breakfast wc had kippered herrings and a piece of bread ; for lunch three biscuits and n piece of cheese; and for dinner curry and rice. Drinking water was very Biiort." Lieutenant Howell, of the Royal Nayv, who had been in the Cameroons, noticed that the Moewe was well provisioned. The German officers boasted that oftcr leaving Kiel they passed ten British ship». . \