SCAPA FLOW SINKINGS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17337, 8 December 1919, Page 7

SCAPA FLOW SINKINGS.

GERMAN RESPONSIBILITY. DOCUMENTS PUBLISHED. / (Received 12.30 a.m.) ' Reuter. LONDON, Dec. 3. A communique issued by the Admiralty, referring to Germany's contention that Admiral von Reuter scuttled the German fleet at Scapa Flow without the knowledge of any German civil or military authority, publishes a translation of a letter found in the safe of the flagship j Emden. The document is dated i May 9 and is marked " most secret." It was written by Admiral von Trotsa, chief of the Ger- ! man Admiralty, to Admiral von Beuter. "The letter discusses the . Allies' probable intentions in regard to the fate of the interned fleet and it emphasises that surrender to the enemy is out of the question. The Admiralty cites the foregoing letter and other instances in refutation of the German allegation that German orders failed to reach Admiral von Reuter, and shows that the last orders reached him on June 17, the very day on which, according to the text of another document, he instructed his commanding officers, carefully detailing preparations to effect a rapid sinking of the ships in the event either of forcible British intervention without German assent, or on his orders, for which he indicated a secret code. Admiral I von Reuter added, in these instrucj tions, that should the German Govi ernment agree to surrender the fleet ' under the peace terms, then the 1 ships must be handed over, " to the ■ lasting disgrace of those who placed us in this position."