On board the Friedrich der Grosse (renamed Huron), the entire personnel were kept busy making bombs. These bombs were carried off the ship in separate parts and assembled at the main factory in Hoboken, which was disguised as a fertilizer plant. This was soon broken up, the men tried and sent to jail.
The officers and men interned had many schemes for making money. A bazaar held at Madison Square Garden, New York, cleared at least $85,000 in a week. Moonlight excursion trips up the Hudson netted more money. This money was supposed to be for the wives, mothers and children of the men, but through the craftiness of a high functionary it was used for his own personal benefit and the upkeep of the German spy system. It was found that he used some of this money also for private speculation.
When news of the sinking of the Lusitania came the German sailors celebrated and German officials made ready to destroy German ships in port at a moment’s notice, for they knew that war with the United States was imminent. But on the morning of April 1st, the Germans were surprised to see one of our destroyers, No. 533, anchored off Pier 2. They thought this a great joke, but on April 5th, the United States officials rounded up German officers and men and sent them to Ellis Island for distribution to Federal prisons.
On this date, United States armed forces seized ninety-one German ships in different ports. The Vaterland was taken over at 4 A. M., on the morning of April 5th. The seizure was made without any trouble or disturbance by the crew and they were marched off and sent to Ellis Island for transfer to Fort Oglethorpe, Ga. The night before the seizure took place, a conference was held on the Vaterland between three representatives of the American Government and the German commanders of the interned vessels. The German commanders were given to understand that there must not be any violence when the ships were taken over. They made no resistance.
The English Navy maintained a steady and vigilant patrol outside the three-mile limit of America.
Description of the Vaterland and General Data
The Vaterland was built at Cuxhaven, Germany, by Blohm and Voss, shipbuilders, of Hamburg, assisted by German naval architects and German army engineers. It was launched in the early part of 1914.
The ship is equipped with 46 Yarrow boilers, German built, and are arranged in four firerooms separated by four watertight bulkheads. 8,731 tons of coal are carried and an average of 700 tons at 17½ knots up to 900 tons at 21½ knots, is burned during twenty-four hours. 5,670 tons of fresh water are carried. This allowed every man aboard, including troops carried later and crew, six gallons per day. Cooking, drinking and water for washing is included in these figures. The ship is divided into fourteen watertight compartments and all doors in the engine room spaces are controlled by compressed air and may be closed from the bridge by a master lever in case of accident or emergency.