The German Fleet.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16558, 25 June 1919, Page 6

The German Fleet.

It is stated, according to Mr Archibald Hurd, ono of the most reliable J of writers on naval affairs, that Admiral von I'eutor, who was apparently in charge of the German Fleet at Scapa Flow, has explained that he be-lu-ved the armistice had terminated, and that he accepts all responsibility for tho sinking of the ships, which was in accordance with an order issued by the ex-Kaiser in the first year of tho war that no German ship was to ba permitted to fall into the enemy's hands. The excuse is altogether too thin. It is not even plausible. If the Admiral aid not know that the armistice had not terminated, which is improbable, he was probably at least aw are that the Ivaiser abdicated some scion months ago, and that an order that ho had issued four years before that act had no longer any force. Admiral von Ileuter will, in all likelihood, have a prolonged opportunity for refleeLiiirr on the consequences of a dishonourable action. 'Iwo correspondents in this issue refer to the scuttling of the German ships. One of them corrects the Ilcv. Chambers, who, in a lotter in yesterday's paper, spoko of the "surrender" of tho ships. Our correspondent is literally accurate in saying that the vessels were rot surrendered, but were handed over for internment. That was the phrase employed in tho terms of tho armistice. But, between an actual surrender and the ceremony in which tho British Grand Fleet accompanied by American and French squadrons, tbol: over the German High Seas Fleet, there was little difference. The German ships came out disarmed, with more or less skeleton crews, their offi-

cers took orders from Sir David I3eatty as a prisoner of war obeys his captor, and they went wlioro they were told to go. In everything but the actual name it was as complete a surrender as the world has ever, seen, and as such was then and has been over since, spoken of by the world's Press. Our other correspondent, Disillusioned," laughs at us for what he describes as our child-like simplicity in expressing the opinon that there was no reason to suppose that the action, of the Germans in sinking tho ships was inspired from Germany, and that the German Government could not be held guilty. TVe still maintain that there was no reason to bolieve that the plot originated in Germany, and tho statement by a London evening paper that this was the case doe 3 not con7ince us. If it were so, what becomes of Admiral von Reutor's acceptance of full responsibility? As for the German Government being cognisant of tho plan, it was, as a London cable in this issue points out, so obviously against Germany's interests that the fleet should be sunk, that it was incredible that the crime should bo organised by tho Govern-

ment. Whatever the book value of the I ships may have been, whether fifty or seventy millions, the amount would have been credited to Germany in the Allies' account against her. That asset has now disappeared, and must be made good in some other way. We have not a great opinion of Germany's commonsense, and none at all of her good faith, but we do not believe she is so blind to her own welfare as to throw away a vast sum of money just now for a sentiment or even to gratify her spito. A message received late last night stated that the Admiralty considered that instructions for the sinking of the fleet did not emanate from Berlin.