BRITISH AT KIEL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXIX, Issue 9488, 30 December 1918, Page 5

BRITISH AT KIEL.

TREATED WITH RESPECT/

(Received December 30, 1.1/5 p.m.) LONDON. Dec. 27.

Admiral Browning's Naval- Mission found' that the Germans had employed most of the interned British merchant ships on war duties. The ships will require much alteration before W.ng fitted for 'their original''purposes. _ Hamburg is a dead port. . The mission inspected the cyclop' submarine cruising vessel, capable of lifting 500 tons, and afeo the 'Mcewe, which has now reverted to merchant uses.

The destroyers Avhieh captured Fryatt's steamer Brussels, caj'ried two of th& Brussels lifebuoys as souvenirs.

The conditions at Kiel were deplorable. Discipline was non-existent, ss.d the Mission, in one case, refused to proceed on the inspection, until the crew quitted the ship. Browning refused to deal with the Workmen's and Soldiers' Council, though obviously they were in complete control of" the situation. The Germa.iv Commisson at Kiel included. Steinbrinek, a submarine commander- who claims to have stink 200,000 tons of .shipping.

- The British mission was * treated everywhere with marked respocfc, iuc.Tmling the officials of-.the Workman's and Soldiers' Council, who smoothrxl the way everywhere. Gorman naval officer* noted with dignity, but a sense of humiliation, was only too apparent. The- men .appeared unashamed. Tho Mission closely examined nil surfaco svnd submarine warship?;, naval siircrA.ft, and merehairtiueti.