THE GERMAN NAVAL MUTINY

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 21, 19 October 1917, Page 5

THE GERMAN NAVAL MUTINY

SENSATIONAL STORY OF JULY OUTBREAK

ALMOST A REVOLUTION

OFFICERS KILLED AND SHIPS BLOWN UP

•n v v i N ™ York ' October 17 riie New lork "Sun" publishes a story « the German naval mutiny, written Kv udopa okt f !derj d \[^»]l tho German Navy, who was one of tho leaders of the seditious propaganda and vrho escaped to Switzerland. Ho was ormerly aligned to the cruiser Magdoburg b«t (ho Russians captured him Owing the bombardment of Libau, on Senteinber i, 1011. Later he was exchanged as incapacitated. In his story of the orgamsation of disloyalty in the Navy, Glatfelder says that tho first idea was to agitate in. the army in France and Belgium, but it was decided to concentrate on the Navy. His comrades, many ot whom were women, who posed as nurses, were sont to sixteen centres. Watfelder s own group was sent to Wilhelmshaven, where 2000 people were engaged in anti-militaristic work, while 1500 were so engaged at Kiel, and 800 at Cuxhaven. Many officers sympathised with the movement. One captain sank his ship, at Bremerhaven, and the loss was never admitted.

I Twelvo thousand sailors and marines participated in the revolt at Wilhelnishaven on July 30. There was a bloody conflict from morning till iiight. The men mobbed au Admiral and fifty officers who preached the Government Propaganda, killing the entire party. They, set fire to the barracks, sheds containing four Zeppelins, warehouses, and wharves, and the Naval Observatory. Ono of the forts at tho arsenal sided with the rebels, and engaged eleven other forts. Four uncompleted warships, I bridges, buildings, and fitting-out har- : bonus were blown up. The t.nthorities, meanwhile, called on tho loyal soldiers. Tho mutineers attempted to reach the warships in the harbour. Some succeeded; while others were mowed down with machine-guns. Glatfeldor writes: "It is only one of tho early incidents of the general discontent, in tho ranks of the German Navy. . Before the account is printed other grave events may occur. Other nations will no longer accuse us of not having 6uch courage as may be necessary to make a rebellion for ; a few hours.'" Prior to the mutiny, the aur thorities ordered the sailors and marines to leave the warships, as they could not trust them on board. Glatfolder deplores the fact that the mutineers bad no prearranged/plans. He asserts that ugly conditions prevail in the naval liases. Tho hospitals contain ropulsive cases from the Army, which the Government is concealing from tho publio. The dead are buried at sea, and regular "deathferries" are maintained. The e'rew of one such vessel revolted in June, and throw tho captain and several of the crew overboard, and shot a Lutheran minister who utterod the words, "Our beloved Kaiser and Fatherland." Glatfelder's story was in tho United States a week before Admiral von Capello made his announcement about the mutiny.-Aus.N.Z. Cable Assu.