GERMAN NAVAL MUTINY

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 15, 12 October 1917, Page 5

GERMAN NAVAL MUTINY

BATTLESHIP CIIEWS IN REVOLT SENSATIONAL STATEMENT IN THE REICHSTAG SOCIALIST PEACE PLOT London, October 10. . It is stated that the crews of four Gorman battleships mutinied. The captain of the battleship Westfalen was drowned. The cruiser Nurnberg was seized and headed for Norway, but a destroyer flotilla recaptured her. The Kaiser ordered a number of executions, but Dr. Michaelis vetoed them.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. WIDESPREAD AND ORGANISED SEDITION REVOLT SUPPRESSED "WITH DIFFICULTY. (Rec. October 11, 5.30 p.m.) Rotterdam, October 10. The naval revolt occurred at Wilhelmshaven six weeks ago. Inquiry showed that widespread organised sedition existed. Tho revolt was suppressed with difficulty. There have also been several mutinies in tho Army, but less ■ grave.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable A6sn. STORY OF THE MUTINY NO DOUBT ABOUT THE REVOLT (Rec. October 11, 9 p.m.) Amsterdam, October 11. Details of the mutiny show that tho sailors threw tho captain of the AVesti'aleii into the sea. His body was recovered eight days later. The mutineers left the ships and went ashore. The marines were ordered to attack them, but refused. Tho Oldenburg Regiment was then called out, and surrounded the mutineers, who surrendered. In addition to iho mutinous crews of four battleships, the crew of the cruiser Nurnberg, which was at sea, revolted, seized tho officers, and headed the veesel for Norway, with the object of- getting themselves interned. En route the Nurnberg encountered n torpedo-boat flotilla, Which signalled tho Nurnberg. Tho latter made no reply, and the commander of tho flotilla, becoming suspicious, sent a wireless message to Wilhelmehaven and received instructions to stop or sink the Nurnberg. The crew of the latter, seeing tho sliip surrounded, surrendered, and the Nurnberg was-convoyed.to 'Wilhelmshaven.

The Kaiser, accompanied by Dr. Michaelis, came to Wilhelinshaven and. ordered one out of every seven of the mu : tineers to be shot. Dr. Michaelis objected that he would bo unable to assume such a responsibility before the Reichstag. Eventually only three ■ were shot, and the others wore'heavily sentenced. One of the reasons for the mutiny is said to be bad and inadequate food.— Reuter. SENSATIONAL STATEMENT IN THE REICHSTAG PEACE PLOT IN THE FLEET. (Rcc. October 11, 5.3(Tp.in.) London, October 30. Admiral von Capelle, head of the. Imperial Adlniralty, made a sensational statement in the Reichstag. He disclosed the fact that a plan to introduce Russian revolutionary ideas into the German Navy had been assented to by Independent "Socialist members of the Reichstag in the course of a conference actually held in the Reichstag buildup. The conference, he su'd, approved a, schorue by which representatives should be selected on board all tho ships, who were to persuado the men to disobey orders, paralyse the fleet, and force the conclusion of peace. "I am able to state, he added, "that in subsequent events in F»e I\avy the , few persons who forgot their honour and duty suffered tho deserved penalty. Three of the deputies, Herren Dittman Haase, and von Therr denied that their proposals were revolutionary. They declared that they had a perfect right to speak to tho sailors regarding their conditions. ~,,,„ The Conservatives urged that these deputies should b"e tried for high treason. Dr Michaelis admitted that soino of the saifes had committed regrettable crimes. They possessed tickets binding fiiem to support tha Independent Socialists' principles, and carried on their propaganda on board the warships. He declared that tho Independent Socialists would now be placed outside the palo to which a German official must oolong. Herr Dittman (Independent Socialist) said that systematic propaganda existed for tho defeat of peaco by agreement. Dr lliohaelis's speech convicted the faermans of a policy of falsehood and duplicity; meanwhile Independent Socialists wore imprisoned because their propaganda was treason. The speech frequently evoked an uproar. ' ' , , , Dr Michaelis, in reply, declared that tho Independent Socialists i were a grave danger lo Germany. Tho punishments indicted ou'the naval mutineers were not excessive. Documents which had been found showed that tho mutineers were pledged to recognise the i principles of the Independent Socialists, who had been conducting a widespread agitation among the crewe. Tho sentences must be severe, becauee it was necessary to break their resistance in theso critical days. Admiral von Capelle said: "I cannot make a statement regarding events at the front; but the mmouis are exaggerated. Herr Dittmann has been a party to the mutineers' plans.—Reuter and Aus.-iN./i Cable Assn.