SURRENDERED WARSHIPS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17658, 23 June 1919, Page 5

SURRENDERED WARSHIPS.

SOME OF THEM SUNK. m ■ * t L P Nr, ON, June 21. (Received June 22, at 5.5 p.m.) A sensational unconfirmed rumour is circulating in London that practically the whole of the German fleet at Scapa Flow had been sunk by the crews, who first hoisted the German flag. Later the Admiralty stated that certain of the tiuarne-J German ships at Scapa Flow were sunk and abandoned by the crews.' The latter will be detained in safe custody. A. and N.Z. Cable. (Received Jun© 22, at 11.5 p.m.) German sailors in custody at Scapa Flow engaged in attending to the upkeep ot the fleet scuttled some of the ships by opening the seacocks. After the vessels had sunk the men swam ashore.—A. and N.Z. Cable. ■ v .. THE SHIPS SUNK. FORTY-SIX OUT OF SEVENTY-TWO. VALUED AT SEVENTY MILLIONS. LONDON, June 22. (Received June 23, at 0.5 a.m.) The Germans sank 46 out of 72 warships at Scapa Flow, as follows: —Nine out of 10 battleships, all 5 battle-cruisers, 5 out of 8 light cruisers, 27 out of 49 destroyers smXmT- ■"" tot ™ "^ _ All the crews concerned have been taken in custody. They have been aboard- attending to the upkeep of the vessels during internment, under terms of the armistice.—A. and N.Z. Cable. LAST OF THE SHIPS. f THE GERMAN ENSIGN HOISTED. LONDON, June 22. (Received June 23, at 1 a.m.) The newspapers are aghast at the Scapa Flow sensation, and demand an inquiry pointing out that the ships were placed in custody of the British naw as trustees for the Allies. The German Ensign was hoisted on all the ships before they sank, and the Baden is now flying the white ensign of Germany. The first warship sank at midday, and the others were settling down till 4.9 p.m., when the last dreadnought turned turtle! Several Germans swam to the island of Caint. Arrangements had been made to board the ships on Monday in the event of peace being signed, and they thus would have passed into the possession of the Allies. * The large%t ships were sunk in water 120 ft deep.—A. and N.Z. Cable. AN ADMIRALTY STATEMENT. SOME WARSHIPS SALVED. GERMAN CREWS FIRED ON. LONDON, June 22. (Received June 23, at 0.45 a.m.) The Admiralty states that the battleship Baden and four destroyers are still afloat. Three light cruisers and eight destroyers were beached by salvaging tugs. Several boats containing escaping German crews refused to stop and were fired upon by British warships. A small number of Germans were killed or wounded.—A. and N.Z. Cable.