THE GERMAN NAVAL MUTINY

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 19, 17 October 1917, Page 5

THE GERMAN NAVAL MUTINY

FULL STORY OF THE

REVOLT

EVENTS OF AUGUST 20

RED FLAG HOISTED

ri London, October IS. The Amsterdam correspondent of the "Daily Express" gives a detailed account of the German naval mutiny. Since tlio Battle of Jutland (May 31, 1016), he says, the German Navy has been boiling with impatience for a decisive battle or for peace. Several causes combined to un« dermine the discipline of the Navy—tha prolonged inactivity, the harshness of tho officers, the reduced rations, and, finally, the Russian devolution, especially the Kronstadt mutiny. Shortly after the last event the officers learned . that the men were conferring by night, l discussing politic.?, Socialism, ai\<l peace. I Several arrests were made, but these only poured oil upon, the flames. Matters came to a climax early in August, as the result of a -further reduction; in rations and of numerous Hoggings for trifling offences. The revolt broke out simultaneously on board four first-class battleships—the Dreadnoughts Frinz Regent Luitpold, the Kaiser, the Westfalen, and tho Heligoland. At dawn on August 20, tho crews assembled on the decks, hoisted red flags, sang the "Marseillaise," and shouted revolutionary eras. Tho officers went to their posts, but, b:> ing threatened that they wo.uld be thrown overboard, did not interfere, rr/i awaited assistance. The captain of t'-io 'Prill/. Kegent Luitpold hastened on hoard and ordered tho ra«n io down tho ml flag within five v.i&atw. Tho crow replied by binding bbs •wit'a cords and throwing him overbvavd. ho was drowned. Tho 'majority of '.ie light, guns wore thrown into !!in se:, .•md tho heavy guns were rendered unless. ; Marines Reftiso to Fire. The authorities at Willielmshuven ordered out several battalions of marines, but thoy declared tkey would not fro upon their comrades until they knew what had happened. Tho commander was furious, but yielded, and . gave the information required. The marines thc-n refused to proceed, and were confined in the barracks. Infantry were then summoned from Oldenburg, aud tor-pedo-boats, filled with the troops, surrounded the battleships and demanded their surrender. A small fight resulted, in which two sailors were killed and some soldiers were wounded, but the rebels soon surrendered. Practically all tho ammunition had been thrown ir.to the sen. Tho ringleaders were shot next morning, and ten others froni each ship were eourt-martialled. Fifteen were shot, and tho remainder to imprisonment for terms averaging tweuty years. It is understood that tho mutinous cruiser moiitionod in earlier reports as the ixurnburg was iho Hamburg, which was stationed at Heligoland. The captain and most of the officers were nbsont from the ship, and the mutineers overpowered the remainder of the officers and quietly left the moorings for .Norway. Many destroyers followed, and ordered tho Hamburg to stop. The even* wcro given five minutes to return, or l>o torpedoed, and thoy obeyed. Thirty arrests were made, and is believed that the mnjorit.v of the prisoners wero s hot.—A us .-N. Z. ■ C abi o Assn.