SCAPA FLOW.
ANOTHER GERMAN LIE NAILED.
(By C*bla—Pr«« Association—Copyriofct.! (Boutor's Telegrams.) ° (Roceived Decembor 7th. 11.35 p.m.) LONDON, December 3. An Admiralty communique, referring to Germany's contention that Admiral von Router scuttled the surrendered German Fleet at Scapa Flow without the knowledge of any German civil or muitan- authority, publishes a translation of a letter found in the safe of the flagship Emdcn. Tho document was dnted Mav 9th, and marked "most secret." It was written by Admiral von Trotsa, Chief of the German Admiralty to Admiral von Reutcr. It discussed the probable intentions of the Allies in regard to the fato of the interned fleet, which it was declared, however, could not be decided without German co-operation and consummated by Germany. The letter emphasised that surrender cno,l, y was out of tho question. Tho Admiralty citos tho foregoing letter and other instances in refutation of tho German allegation that German orders failed to reach Admiral von Reutcr, and showp that tho last orders reached him on June 17th. the very day on which, according to tho text of another document, ho instructed the commanding officers of ships, carefully detailing tho preparations made to I effect their rapid sinking, in the event of forcible British intervention, without Gorman assent, or on his orders, regarding which he indicated a secret code. Admiral von Renter added that should tho Germnn Government ngreo to the surrender of the ships under tho Peace terms, then the ships must bo handed over to tho "lasting disgrace of those who placed us in this position." STILL HEDGING. I (Renter's TelefrramaJ (Received December 7th, 11.55 p.m.) PARIS, Deccmbor 3. Horr von Lcsner, of the Gorman Pcacc Delegation, in an interview, said that Germany's suegestion to invito tho decision of tho Haguo Convention regarding the sinking of the fleet at Scapa Flow was based on tho argument that Germany was not responsiblo, and therefore desired an impartial judgment. Germany was prepared to 6ign the Protocol to tho l e«co Treaty immediately the Allies agreed to that, proposal.
A message received Inst week said:— Germany has sent a memorandum to tho Peace Conference, blaming tho Allies for tho sinking of tho surrendered Germun warships at Scapa Flow, ns the warships, contrary to the Armistice, were not interned in a neutral port, but in a British port.
Germany contends that Admiral von Router, cut off from communication with his homeland, was bound to assume that the Armistice ended on June 21st. and ordered the sinkings " in accordance with seamen's usage." Admiral von Renter was withdrawn from tho German Government's authoritv and the latter, therefore, was not responsible for his acts, but in order to prevent the dispute delaying the Peace having tho effect which is urgently desired. Germanv is prepared to have the affair submitted to tho permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague.
Permanent link to this item
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19191208.2.72
Bibliographic details
Press, Volume LV, Issue 16700, 8 December 1919, Page 9
Word Count
473SCAPA FLOW. Press, Volume LV, Issue 16700, 8 December 1919, Page 9
Using This Item
Stuff Ltd is the copyright owner for the Press. You can reproduce in-copyright material from this newspaper for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 3.0 New Zealand licence. This newspaper is not available for commercial use without the consent of Stuff Ltd. For advice on reproduction of out-of-copyright material from this newspaper, please refer to the Copyright guide.
Acknowledgements
This newspaper was digitised in partnership with Christchurch City Libraries.