THE SCUTTLED FLEET.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16558, 25 June 1919, Page 7

THE SCUTTLED FLEET.

admiral obeys orders. PLOT HATCHED IN BERLIN. EXCURSIONISTS WITNESS SINKING. (By Cable.—Prm A*«oci*tloi.—' Copyngkt.) (Australian and N.Z. Cabl« Association.) j LONDON. June 22. | The Admiralty 13 observing the closest secrecy in regard to the Kinking of the German Fleet at Scapa Flow, and has forbidden newspaper representatives to enter the Orkneys. Probably the full story will not be revealed until Tuesday, when emergency questions will be asked in the House of Commons. The Baden was removed from her anchorage on Sunday and beached. Therefore none of the German battleships is now afloat. Mr Archibald Hurd says: It is understood that Admiral von lleuter stateß that he believed that the armistice had terminated, and accepts full responsibility for the sinking, which was in accordance with an order given at the beginning of the war that no German man-of-war was to be surrendered. The excuse does not deserve 6erious consideration. Von lleuter and 1800 of the German crews are now prisoners. An eye-witness aboard a steamer on which 2UO Strome children were enjoying a cruise round the German 4'ieet tells a graphic story of the sinking. 'l'hey noticed that the enemy crews were unusually quiet. Suddenly a drifter warned the steamer to keep clear of the German ships, which were now a scene of bustle and excitement. The German eagle was being run to each masthead, and the vessels were slowly and noiselessly settling down. The sailors on the British vessels were as powerless as the children to prevent the disappearance of the fleet. There was a violent explosion in the morning on the spot where one of the German ships sank. A pillar of water and wreckage rose several hundred feet. There was a similar explosion in the hull a partially submerged destroyer. _ which immediately heeled over and disappeared. The naval authorities fonnd Admiral von Reuter's orders of a recent date for the sinking of the shins. Six Germans were killed and 10 wounded while attempting to escape when ordered to stoT>. None* of the navi?rnble channels of Scapa Flow was blocked.

It is questionable whether salvage operations would justify the expense. Naval writers regard the scuttling as a good riddance. The vessels were very neglected, and their distribution would have proved an embarrassment, and their maintenance would have involved heavy expenditure, including the manufacture of a type of guns, torpedoes, and ammunition. It is unlikely that the scuttling plot was hatched at Weimar, as it would only embarrass the new Government. Admiral von Reuter, when arrested; stated that the ex-Kaiser had issued an order in 1914 never to permit a ship to fall into tho enemy's hands. _ It is offieiallv said that it is intended to salve the Baden, the Emden, and possiblv the Frankfurt and the Nuremverg, but not to salve the others, ■which are Iving in from 12 to 20 fathoms, making it unnecessary to blow them up. The latost details from Scapa Flow show that five battle-cruisers and ten battleships were sunk. The Baden was beachcd. Five light cruisers were sunk and three beached. Twenty-eight destrovers were sunk and 20 beached. Two are afloat. It is authoritatively denied that tho crews were periodically relieved when the supply ships arrived from Germany, but the vessels lay so close that it was difficult to prevent communication. The British frequently assisted in

quelling mutinies.. A German officer ? wearing the iron cross, boastfullv pointed to the sinking ships, and said: "See how they go down with their flags flying." He spoke too soon, for British sailors boarded ship after ship and hauled down the flags before tho vessels sank. The "Evening Nows" states that it has been definitely ascertained that the scuttling of the ships was planned in Berlin, and that the relief crews recently brought the instructions. ELATION IN GERMANY. COPENHAGEN, Juno 23. The German newspapers are elated. One praises tho feat, but fears that the Entente will make an additional monetary claim. The "Mittag Zeitung" proudly boasts that Germany fulfilled her resolve never to let England koop the ships. Weimar advices state that the German warships in Kiel and . other harbours have been sunk. , FRENCH COMMENT. PARIS, June 23. The Press is indignant nt tho sinking of the German ships at Scapa Flow. Some deplore the British negligence, and others point out that France # expected a share of tho slups, &nd infer that France should claim compensation from the Allies. ADMIRALTY'S OPINION. VoN REUTER ACTED ON OWN INITIATIVE. (Received Juno 24th, 10.30 p.m.) LONDON, Juno 23. The Admiralty consider that Admiral von Renter orderod the scuttling of the fleet at Scann Flow without instructions from Berlin. TO THIS EDITOR OF "TH2 TOSS 3." Sir,—l think the Rov. Eliot Chambers is under a misapprehension with regard to the surrender of tho Gorman fleet. So far as the U-boats are concerned ho is quite correct —they were surrendered to the British Navy. The German fleet, however, was not surrendered. but merely handed over for internment. In the official record of the surrender of the German fleet the following sentence occurs:—"The Armistice is only a suspension of hostilities, and the enemy warships are not formally surrendered, but only handed over for internment. n In the same publication also occurs tho following passage:—"The surrender of the submarines" —no handing over for internment this, but a final and absolute cession—"commenced on November 20th." This fact, no doubt, accounts for tha presence of the German crews on board the warships.—Yours, etc., W.J.D. Jnne 24th. TO THIS EDITOR OT "THE PRESS." Sir,—Your leader in to-day's "Press" on "The Perfidious German," has come as a shock to me. Until to-day I ha<3 never dreamed that thsre was any childlike simplicity in your composition, bub after reading the following passages from your leader, I am satisfied that you, like the custodians of tho German Fleet, have not profited, as you should bv four years of German perfidy and Your credulity is anw.ing

to warmnt you in penning the following:—"There is no reason to supjwso that the art-ion of the Germans in sinking their ships was inspired from Germrny." No; the honourable Germans w-mld not do such a thing. And, again: "As we have said. the German Government cannot be held pui'.ty, etc." TVhat proof have you. Sir, that they are innocent? Enough said. —Yours, etc., DISILLUSIONED. June 24th. (These letters are referred to in our Editorial Columns* —Ed. "The Press."] to Tire editor or "tot fkkss." Sir, —I don't agree with the "Late R.N." writer, who says we havo lost prestige. It is the "perfidious German,'' as you point out, who seems determined to strip his siul of what dirty rags remain covering it. If all the navies in the world wero sunk—oxcept the British—then the League of Natiorw would get a good start. Let us hold the thought.—Yours, etc., PETER TROLOVE.