THE MUTINY IN THE GERMAN NAVY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLII, Issue 10108, 16 October 1917, Page 5

THE MUTINY IN THE GERMAN NAVY.

MEN ON FOUR BATTLESHIPS REVOLT. THE RINGLEADERS SHOT. Australfen-Ncw Zealand Cable Association. Received October 16, 8.35 a.m LONDON. Oct. 15. '1 lie Daily Express’ Amsterdam correspondent gives a detailed account of the German mutiny. Since the Jutland battle the navy baa been boiling with impatience for a decisive battle or peace. Several causes have combined to undermine discipline—prolonged inactivity, the harshness of officers, ■•educed rations, and dually the Russian revolution, especially the Kronstadt mutiny. Shortly after the last event the officers learned that the men were nightly conferring and discussing politics, Socialism and peace. Several arrests only poured oil ou to the flames. Matters came to a climax early in August, following a further reduction in rations and Humorous floggings for trifling offences. The revolt broke out simultaneously on four first-class battleships—Prinz Regent Luitpold, Kaiser, Westfalen and Heligoland. At dawn on the 20th of August the crews assembled on the decks, hoisted red flags, sang tho .Marseillaise, and shouted revolutionary cries. Tho officers went to their posts, but the men threatened they would throw them overboard and they did not interfere, awaiting assistance. Tho captain of the Prinz Regent Luitpold hastened aboard and ordered tho men to haul down the red flag, ithin five minutes tho crew replied by binding him with cords and throwing him overboard. He was drowned. The majority of the light guns wc.ro thrown into the sea and tho heavy guns wore rendered useless. The authorities at Wilhelmshaveti ordered out several battalions of marines, but, the latter declared they would not fire on their comrades until they- knew what had happened. Tho. commander was furious but \ ielded, giving the information repaired. r J he marines refused to proceed and wore conlined to tho barracks. Infantry was summoned from Oldenburg. Torpedo boats, tho bows idled with troops, surrounded tho battleships, demanding a surrender. A small fight, resulted in two sailors being killed and some soldiers wounded. Tho. rebels, soon surrendered. Practically all the ammunition had been thrown into tho sea. Tho ringleaders were shot, next morning; ten others from each ship wore courtinuDialled and fifteen shot. Tho remainder were sentenced to an average term of 20

it iViinclorstootMhc mutinous cruiser was the Hamburg, stationed at Heligoland, '1 ho captain and most of tho officers were absent from the ship. The mutineers overpowered llie remainder and quietly left the moorings for Norway. Many destroyers followed and ordered' the' Hamburg to'stop. She was given five minutes to return or bo torpedoed. Tho mutinous crow obeyed and 30 men wore arrested. It is believed the majority wore shot.