"DER TAG"

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 10135, 25 November 1918, Page 5

"DER TAG"

FOUR YEARS ACO- - HOW!

FURTHER ACCOUNT OF THE SURRENDER. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association (Received November 24, 5-5 p.m.) LONDON, November 21. "Der Tag" proved very different from the expectations entertained in German naval circles four years ago. It was fine moonlight when tho Allied fleets weighed anchor at 3 o'clock in tho morning, and proceeded to the place of rendezvous, sixty miles from the Scottish coast. Admiral Beatty put to sea in two single lines, six miles apart, to enable the surrendering fleet to come up the centre. At 2.30 p.m. the leading German ship was seen five miles away. She proved to he tho battle-cruiser Seydlitz, flying Commodore Tagert's pennon. She was followed by tho Derflmger, Moltke, Emdenburg, and Von der Tann. The Allied fleet was instructed not to relax its vigilance. If any nonsense was attempted it was ready for immediate action. However, the arrangement was completed without a hitch. Tho surrendering vessels approached in single column, three cables apart. The battleships were followed by light cruisers, which, three miles astern, passed between the Allied lines. It was a stately procession. There was not a sound in the Allied lines while the Germans passed; then Admiral Beatty, on the Queen Elizabeth, came through the lines, and the men in every ship vented their re-' pressed emotions. It was an amazing demonstration of affection and admiration for the AdmiralThere had been some grumbles in the Trench newspapers because tho Allies had not confiscated all the German ships, but it is pointed out that every capital German ship built since 1910, excepting the Lutzow and Worth, is now moored in the Firth of Forth, where all are being examined before being interned. In connection with the surrender of the second batch of nineteen submarines, the battleship'Heligoland, 'unarmed, led them to Harwich. Tho commander of one of the submarines angrily ejaculated, "VS'o -will bo back for them soon." "Der Tag"—The Day—was for many years tho German naval toast, signifying that the day would come when the German Navy would meet and overcome the British;'Navy. AN UNPARALLELED - TRIUMPH. ADMIRALTY CONGRATULATES OFFICERS "AND MEN. Ana. and N.Z. Cable Asan. and Reuter. (Received November 25, 12.20 a.m.) LONDON, November 23. The Board of Admiralty has issued a message congratulating the officers and men of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines on".'the- completion of their great work, a triumph to which history knows no parallel. The surrender of the German fleet was accomplished without a shot. The battle will remain for all time an example of the wonderful sureness with -which sea power attains its end. The world recognises that this consummation is due to the steadfastness with which the Navy maintained its pressure on the enemy through more than four years ,of war—a 'pressure exerted no less insistently during the long monotony of waiting than in the rare opportunities of attack. (Received November 24, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, November 22. The surrendered warships included the light cruisers Karlsruhe, Emden, Frankfurt, and Numberg, forty-nine destroyers, and the battle-cruisers Koenig and Mackensen. Two light cruis?rs have still to be surrendered.

BRITISH NAVY

AMERICAN PRESS TRIBUTE. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received November 24, 5.5 p.m.) NEW YORK, November 22. The newspapers of New York point out that tbere' has been much debating as to who and what won the war, but it is sure that "had not tho British Navy existed the war could not have been won at all." The surrender of the German Navy la described as merely a naval parade, which, however, tells a tale of sea power as truly as would a gigantic naval battle with, scarred victors sailing home triumphant. British statesmen are praised for their wisdom in deoiding "to safeguard Einglatnd by making her safe on the seas."

!N SIBERIA

A.POLITICAL COUP.Australian and N.Z. Cablo Association (Received November 24, 5.5 pijn.) NEW YORK, November 22. . Dispatches received via Vladivostok say that a coup occurred at Omsk, whereby Admiral Kolchak was mado Dictator at the instance of the Council of Ministers of All-Russian Ministers. The coup was directed against the activities of Radical Ministers. THE COUP. SOMEWHAT EXAGGERATED. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received November 2-1, 11.5 p.m.) WASHINGTON. November 23. Official dispatches received by the Russian Embassy say that the Omsk coup cabled on the 22nd is less sensational than at first appeared. The coup was attempted by three officers, ivbo arrested two members of the AllRussian Government. To block further outlawry, the Council of Ministors gave Admiral Colchak supremo authority to tako the necessary measures to preserve order.