GERMAN NAVAL MUTINY.

Colonist, Volume LVIII, Issue 14539, 17 October 1917, Page 5

GERMAN NAVAL MUTINY.

FURTHER DETAILS,

TROUBLE BREWING SINCE JUTLAND BATTLE.

A -WIDESPREAD REVOLT.

MANY EXECUTIONS^

(Australian and N.Z. Cable Association)

London, Oct.- 15.

The ''Daily Express's" Amsterdam correspondent gives a, detailed account of the Germany mutiny. He says that since the Jutland battle the navy has been boiling with impatience for a decisive battle or peace. Several causes combined to undermine discipline—the prolonged inactivity, the harshness of officers, reduced rations, and finally the Russian revolution, especially the Kronstadt mutiny. Shortly after the last event, officers learned that tho men were nightly conferring and,discussing politics, Socialism, and peace. Several arrests were made, but this only poured oil on tho flames.

Matters came to a climax early in August, following a further reduction of rations and numerous floggings for trifling offences.

The revolt broke out simultaneously on four first-class battleships, the Prinz Regent Luitpold, the Kaiser, the Westfalen and the Helgoland. At dawn on August 20th the crews assembled on the decks and hoisted red flags and sang the Marseillaise.' They shouted revolutionary cries. The officers went to their posts, but the men threatened to throw them overboard; They did not interfere, -awaiting, assistance. i The captain of the Prinz Regent Luitpold hastened on board arid ordered , the men to haul down the red flog '.vithin five minutes. The crew replied

CABLE NEWS.

[Pbess Association.—Copyright.]

by binding him. with cords and throw -' ing Mm overboard. He was drowned. The majority of the light guns were' thrown, into the sea and the heavy guns rendered useless. The authorities at Wilhelmshaven ordered out several battalions of mafines. The latter declined to fire on their comrades Until they knew what had happened. The commander was furious, bift yielded, giving the information required. The marines then refused to proceed, and were confined to barracks. Infantry wns summoned from Oldenburg, and torpedo boats filled with troops surrounded the battleships, demanding their surrender. A small fight resulted in two sailors being killed and some soldiers wounded. The rebels soon surrendered. Practically all the ammunition had been thrown into the sea. The ringleaders were shot next morning, and ten others from each ship were courtmartialled and fifteen shot. The remainder were sentenced to an average term of 20 years' imprisonment. It is understood that the mutinous cruiser was the Hamburg, stationed at Heligoland. " The captain and most of the officers were absent from the ship. The mutineers overpowered the 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 be tor- j pedoed. She obeyed, and thirty men were arrested. It is believed the majority were shot.