Interned?

[Chris Boonzaier]

What happened to German ship crews who were in the US at the outbreak of the war?

CINCINNATI

The "Cincinatti" was a 16,339 ton liner belonging to the Hamburg America Line. She was built in 1908 by F. Schichau of Danzig and was launched on 24th July 1908. Her dimensions were length 582.3ft x beam 65.4ft, two funnels, four masts, twin screw and a speed of 16 knots. She had accommodation for 243-1st, 210-2nd, 484-3rd and 1821-4th class passengers. On 27.5.1909 she left Hamburg on her maiden voyage to Southampton, Cherbourg and New York and continued on this service until 4.4.1910 when she was used on a winter service Genoa - Naples - New York. In 1913 she made her last voyage on this run and on 21.5.1913 made her first trip on the Hamburg - Boulogne - Southampton - Boston run. She stayed on this service until her last voyage on 28th July 1914 when she was interned at Boston and seized by the USA in April 1917 on their entry into the Great War. She was then renamed "Covington" and on 1.7.1918 was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine U.86 off the French coast.

I have a militärpass to a guy who served on her when she was inturned. his seamans book is there showing the last voyage as is his militärpass with an entry "reported for mobilisation" german consulate, Boston Mass. 10 August 1914

then no further entries.

Was he then interned? or sent back to Germany? His papers dont say..... What was the usual thing in a case like this?

Thanks

Chris