Captain, some of whose crew--neutrals--were helping to work the
_Hitachi_. There was also mentioned another scheme of taking the
_Hitachi_ near Mauritius, sending all her prisoners and German officers
and crew off in boats at nightfall to the island, and then blowing up
the ship. Lieutenant Rose admitted that if he and his crew were interned
in a British possession he knew they would all be well treated. But all
these plans came to nothing, and as day by day went by and the _Wolf_,
for reasons best known to herself, did not go out after another prize,
though the Germans knew and told us what steamers were about--and in
more than one case we knew they were correct--it became evident that
the _Hitachi_ would have to be destroyed, as she had not enough coal to
carry on with, and we should all have to be sent on to the _Wolf_.

But the married men protested vigorously against having their wives put
in danger of shell-fire from a British or Allied cruiser, and on October
30th sent the following petition to the Commander of the _Wolf_:--

"We, the undersigned detained enemy subjects travelling with
our wives, some of whom have already been exposed to
shell-fire, and the remainder to the risk thereof, and have
suffered many weeks' detention on board, respectfully beg
that no women be transferred to the auxiliary cruiser,
thereby exposing them to a repetition of the grave dangers
they have already run. We earnestly trust that some means
may be found by which consideration may be shown to all the
women on board by landing them safely without their
incurring further peril. We take this opportunity of
expressing our gratitude for the treatment we have received
since our capture, and our sincere appreciation of the
courtesy and consideration shown us by every officer and man