NAVAL SURRENDER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17112, 18 March 1919, Page 8

NAVAL SURRENDER.

AUCKLANDER'S STORY. TAKING OVER ENEMY FLEET. ADMIRAL BEATTY'S TRIUMPH. The surrender of the German Fleet Is referred to in 3- letter to his sister from Mr. H. Forrest, of Auckland, who is at present serving to the navy AS 811 010C11 i* cian on H.M.B. Resolution. | " Tho past week," he snys, " has been truly a momentous one in tho history of the British Navy, and, incidentally, the British Empire. On Wednesday morning last I was busy getting the gyro compasses ready for another little trip to sea, when the warrant electrician called me up on tho 'phone and informed me that everyone, except those actually oil watch, was to clean up, as the King was to inspect the floet prior to our little excursion, to take over the German fleet. ' Everyone aft,' was sounded, and soon practically our full complement of over 1200 strong were assembled on the -quarterdeck- Alien, our captain, who, by the way, has only! just joined us from H.M.A.S. Australia, as our previous skipper had been pro-. moted rear-admiral, gave us an address, explaining and describing tho recent course of events, etc. Then wo proceeded , to our different stations for.manning ship ; to cheer His Majesty. As tho King came j down the lines in Beatty's rocisengor i ship, the Oak, preceded by the destroyer 1 leader Verdun, the ship's company, in. answer to the bugle, stepped back smartly,' raised caps in the air, and gave three hearty cheers as His Majesty passed the ship. As the Oak proceeded down the j lines of majestic-looking sh.ps, aeroplanes I were hovering round and doing SOmO I really clever stunt flying, etc. You may 1 not know, but nearly every warship of any importance now carries two or three aeroplanes, quite apart from the special aeroplane-carrying snips. Crews go to Stations. " Then tho ships wero ' prepared for sea,' and at about 2 a.m. on Thursday; we commenced to unshackle our anchor i cables ready to slip our moorings. Mean-, while, in the darkness, dark shapes— ] cruisers, etc.—kept slipping paft us on their way out thr ugh the loom defences; |of the Forth to scout for ihe enemy. At 4 a.m. we slipped, and very soon were feeling our way out under that magnificent Forth Bridge, out through the defences to the green-grey North Sea. How often in the past have wo gone out through these same gates, and wondering how many would return? However, daylight found us cutting our way through the calm sea— the sea seemed to breatho peace a fixed point east of May Island, where we were to pick up tho enemy fleet and escort them uack to the outer reaches of tho Forth, where we now lie. For tho past 10 days we had been shrouded in thick mist, which at times even obscured the next ship in line. Fortunately, this gradually cleared up, and by 8.30 a.m. the sun broke through the clouds, and the weather brightened up. Suddenly at 9 a.m. bugles SOU ded, ' Immediate action,' a: d in a few moments we wero at our stations, ready for anything. Beatty was taking no chances with tho treacherous German, and so were were quitd prepared for peaceable submission or to sink any who tried treachery. An Incredible Sight. " Apparently tho German was absolutely beaten, for he quietly proceeded to follow out our gallant commander-in-chief's orders, and we took up our station for escorting our prisoners to liosythThen the 'phone called us up, advising all those who wished to do so to proceed to tho upper deck to sec the enemy on the starboard side. This message was from tho torpedo-lieutenant in the upper conning tower, so naturally I diet not lose much lime in finding my way to the search light platform. Thon wi at an in* credible sight met one's eyes, for in between our lines, stretching astern till lost to view, steaming about 10 knots, was the pride of the German Navy. Truly can it be said that even in the wildest flights of our imagination it was never dreamed that ships such as these German battleships, battle cruisers, etc., would a team nearly 400 miles to surrender to tho greatest sea power tho world has ever seen. 400 British Ships Present. "As we approached May Island, about 11 a.m., we turned, so as to get the German ships ahead. Then a wonderful sight ' came into view. As the lirst battle squad- ' ron steamed in one direction, wo passed down the line of German light cruisers and destroyers, escorted by our light craft, going towards May Island. Over 200 of our • destroyers were steaming along, with the enemy light cruisers and 49 German destroyers in between their lines. Tho ! eea was literally crowded with ships, j large and small, during the execution of | this turning movement, and one could not ' help but realise what a mighty thing tho ! British Navy is, for, though this was only I part of our navy, over 400 British ships I were engaged in this historio event. And Iso the surrendered fleet passed on to tho I anchorage off Inchkeith, while we took up , the rear and effectually made any attempt Ito escape an impossibility. Just prior to I anchoring, we had to pass the Queen 1 Elizabeth—Admiral Beatty's flagship as we went by everybody who possibly could do so went, some on the foc'sle, some on the turrets, and cheered Beatty to tho echo. About 3 p.m., we let go the anchor, and almost immediately | the search and examination party detailed from the Resolution proceeded in our picket boat to tho German battleship Grosser Kurfurst, which we are responj sible for. After making sure that everyi tiling was according to Beatty s previous orders, the examining party returned. Of course, the bin gun crews are at their posts, and strong_ sentries posted, in case the Germans still resort to treachery. Otherwise everything is proceeding as if we were in harbour. Took Part in Jutland Battle. "The Grosser Kurfurst, one of Germany's best battleships, it now transpires, was "ill tho Jutland Battle _ <so badly smashed up that she has only just recently come out of dock. This ship was hit by nine salvoes of loin guns— salvo killing or wounding even-body in their 6in hatterv deck—' torpedoed once, and while straggling buok to port struck a mino laid i by our minelayers, and eventually reached ' home in a sinking condition and an absoj lute wreck. The Germans lost 15 large, ships, over 50 destroyers and light cruisers, and near'y 100 smaller vessels According to the crew of the Grosser Kurfurst practicallv the whole of the German High Seas Fleet was badly smashed."