Listing continued from ADM 137/23/4. Folios 331-345: SS Potaro (ship¡¯s official...

Listing continued from ADM 137/23/4.

Folios 331-345: SS Potaro (ship¡¯s official number 120704), owned by the Royal Mail Steam Packet Co, London, captured on 10 January 1915 and sunk on 6 February 1915 by the Kronprinz Wilhelm. Under the command of Captain Henry John Bennett left Liverpool on 25 December 1914 in ballast for Monte Video. When captured she was at Lat. 5¢ª48¡¯N Long. 25¢ª58¡¯W about 70 miles to the eastward of the trade route following Admiralty instructions. Her Marconi wireless was handed over undamaged and was used by the Germans whilst Pataro was used as a scout, (folio 332). Index of documents, (folio 333). Report by Captain Bennett, (paper number TD.2877) dated 7 March 1915 giving description of capture, capture of other vessels, treatment on board Kronprinz Wihelm, transfer to the scout Holger and release in Buenos Aires, (folios 334-339). German document in German and English taking possession of the captured ship, (folio 340). Examination on oath (paper number M 7595) dated 18 March 1915 and statement (paper number M 19370) dated 19 February 1915 by Captain Bennett, (folios 341-344). Questions and reply from Captain Bennet that scouts are employed being stationed about 100 miles on either side, the average speed about 10 to 12 knots but could be faster and that a full head of steam is always kept for any emergency, (folio 345).

Folio 346-362: SS Highland Brae (ship¡¯s official number 129153), owned by the Nelson S.N. Co. Ltd., London, captured on 14 January 1915 and sunk about 30 January 1915 by the Kronzprinz Wilhelm. Under the command of Captain R.R. Pond left Gravesend on 31 December 1914 with general good and bunker coal for Buenos Aires. When captured she was at Lat. 2¢ª46¡¯N Long. 26¢ª0¡¯W about 160 miles to the eastward of the trade route and was following Admiralty instructions, (folio 347). Index of documents, (folio 348). Telegram 23 February 1915 from Agents in Buenos Aires to Nelson Line informing them of the capture and release of crew, (folio 349). Shipping Casualty report 20 March 1915, (folio 350). Letter 22 March from the Nelson Line to the Admiralty and the report by Captain Pond on capture, the ¡®looting¡¯ of Highland Brae¡¯s store and coal, the transfer of the crew to the Holger and release in Buenos Aires, (folios 351-359). Examination on oath dated 25 March 1915 and statement (paper number M 19370) dated 19 February 1915 by Captain Bennett, (folios 360-362).

Folios 363-372: SV Wilfrid M. (ship¡¯s official number 126583). Sailing vessel owned by the Wilfrid M. Co. Ltd, Nova Scotia, captured and sunk on 14 January 1915 by Kronprinz Wilhelm. Under the command of Cyrus W Pasks left St. Johns, New Brunswick on 19 December 1914 with dry fish. When captured at Lat .3¢ªN Long. 26¢ªW about 150 miles clear of steamer trade route and the Master was in no way to blame for her loss, (folio 364). Index of documents, (folio 365). Telegram 17 February 1915 from Royal Mail Steam Packet Co to the Admiralty reporting crews¡¯ of captured ships arrival in Buenos Aires, (folio 366). Statement on oath by Captain Pasks (paper number M 19370), after capture the crew was transferred to the Kronprinz Wilhelm which then sank the Wilfrid M by ramming. The crew were transferred to the Holger and released in Buenos Aires, (folio 367). Letter 19 April 1915 from the Board of Trade to the Admiralty with the Shipping Causality report, (folios 368-369). Letter dated 5 June 1915 from the Board of Trade to the Admiralty with a letter (paper number M 14580) dated 15 May 1915 from the Treasury, Grenada, reporting that a large portion of a derelict ship was seen drifting off the Island of Carriacou and had been identified as from the Wilfrid M., (folios 370-372).

Folios 373-391: SS Chasehill (ship¡¯s official number 98893), owned by the Kaye, Son & Co Ltd., London, captured on 22 February 1915 by Kronprinz Wilhelm. Under the command of Captain Robert Henry Kidd left Newport, Monmouthshire on 3 February 1915 with coal for Zarate, Rio de la Plate. Captured at Lat. 6¢ª15¡¯S Long. 28¢ª10¡¯W being 277 miles eastward of trade route so the Master was in no way to blame. Coal was transferred to the Kronprinz Wilhelm. The vessel was retained until 9 March 1915 when 294 passengers and crew of the French steamer Guadeloupe were transferred and then released to proceed to Pernambuco where she arrived on 8 March. The hull was so badly damaged when the cargo was being transferred as to amount to constructive total loss under her Insurance policy, (folio 374). Index of documents, (folio 375). Telegrams 12 and 13 March 1915 reporting the arrival of Chasenhill, the last known position of the Kronprinz Wilhelm, the transfer of all coal and stores, the passengers and crew of Guadeloupe and the damage to the hull, (folios 376-382). Letter dated 19 March 1915 from British Consulate, Pernambuco to the Board of Trade London with the declaration under oath of Captain Kidd, (folios 383-385). Letter dated 8 April 1915 from Kaye & Son to the Admiralty with a letter from the Receiver of Wrecks on the damage to the Chasenhill, (folios 386-388). Examination on oath (paper number M 10153) of Captain Robert Henry Kidd, SS Chasehill, and a deposition that all Admiralty confidential documents were torn up and thrown overboard at the time of capture, (folios 389-390).

Folios 392-401: SS Tamar, owned by Royal Mail Steam Packet Co., London, captured and sunk on 24 March 1915 by Kronprinz Wilhelm. Under the command of Captain Frank Stanley Hannan left Santos on 15 March with 3,000 to 4,000 tons of coffee for Havre. When captured was at Lat. 2¢ª6¡¯S Long. 28¢ª50¡¯W being 138 miles to the eastward of the trade route. The Captain was in no way to blame for the loss of his ship, (folio 393). Index of documents, (folio 394). Clipping from Lloyds List, 15 April 1915, on loss and the release of the crew at Newport News, (folio 395). Examination on oath of Captain Frank Stanley Hannan, (paper number 113904), (folios 396-397). Statement made by Captain Hannan that Tamar was not fitted with wireless equipment. Although following Admiralty sailing instructions Tamar was sighted and captured by Kronprinz Wilhelm. Confidential papers were destroyed before being boarded. The crew and provisions were taken on board the cruiser. Later the Captain saw the Tamar in a sinking condition. The crew was asked to sign a declaration of neutrality as a condition of being released. It was observed that the Kronprinz Wilhelm was damaged badly from having other ships lashed along side. During the time on board, the Coleby was captured and two Italian and a Norwegian steamer were allowed to pass. She then proceeded to Newport News where the crew was released. The cruiser has excessively high masts where lookouts in the crow¡¯s nests had sighted Tamar at 30 miles, (folios 398-401).

Folios 402-408: SS Coleby, owned by Sir Robert Ropner, West Hartlepool, captured on 27 March 1915 and sunk on 28 March 1915 by the Kronprinz Wilhelm. Under the command of Captain William Crighton, SS Coleby, left Rosario on 12 March 1915 with 5,500 tons of wheat for St. Vincent for orders. Captured at Lat. 1¢ª54¡¯S Long. 29¢ª59¡¯W 70 miles to eastward of the usual track. Although capture was by mischance, she might have been sighted by observation of her navigation lights, (folio 403). Index of documents, (folios 404-405). Note 12 April 1915 on capture and release of crew at Newport News, (folio 406). Examination on oath, dated 26 April 1915 (paper number M 11227), of Captain William Crighton, (folios 407-408).

Listing continued in ADM 137/23/6.