THE SCAPA SCUTTLE.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 16611, 8 December 1919, Page 7

THE SCAPA SCUTTLE.

GERMAN DOCUMENT. ORDERING THE SINKING. By Telegraph— -Press Assn. —Copyright. LONDON, Dec. 3. An'Admiralty communique, referring to Germany’s contention that Admiral yon Reuter scuttled the German Fleet at Scapa. Flow without the knowledge of any German civil or military autnority, publishes a translation of a letter found in-the saf© of th© flagship Eruden. The document is dated May 9, and is marked “Most secret.” It is ■written hy Admiral von Trotsa, Chief of the German Admiralty, to Admiral von Reuter. If discusses the Allies’ probable intentions in regard to the fate of the interned fleet, which, it is declared, however, cannot he decided without German co-operation, and consummated by Germany. The letter emphasised that surrender to the enemy was out of the question. The Admiralty cites the foregoing and other instances in refutatioh of the German allegations that German orders failed to roach 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 docu. ment, he instructed the commanding officers with carefully detailed preparations to effect rapid sinking in the event of forcible British intervention without German assent or on his orders, whereauent he indicated the secret code. Admiral von Reuter added that should the German Government agree to surrender under the Peace Terms, then the ships must be handed over “to the lasting disgrace of those who placed us in this position.”—-Reuter Service.