INTERNED GERMAN FLEET

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 230, 23 June 1919, Page 5

INTERNED GERMAN FLEET

0NUMBER OF SHIPS AT SCAPA FLOW SUNK SCUTTLED BY THE CREWS Bj Telegraph-Press Aesociatlon-Coryrirht (Rec. June 22, 5.5. p.m.) London, June 21. A sensational unconfirmed rumour has been circulating in Londan that practically the whole of the Gorman Fleet at Scapa Flow lias been eiiiik by )ho crews, who first hoisted the German Hag. Later. Tho Admiralty states that certain of the interned German ships at Scapa How were sunk and abandoned by the crews. The latter will be detained in safe cra-tody.—Aus.-N.SS. Cablo Assn. SAILORS OPEN THE SEACOCKS AND SWIM ASHORE. (Rec. June 22, 11.5 p.m.) London, June 21. ■ The German sailors in custody at Scapa Flow engaged in' attending to the upkeep of the lieet scuttled some of the ships by opening tho seacocks. After the vossels sank the men swam ashore.— A-us.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-forty-sixlessels sunk CREWS CONCERNED IN CUSTODY. (Rec. June 23, 0.5 a.m.) London, June 22. Tho Germans sank forty-six out of seventy-two warships at Scapa Flow, as follow:—Nine out of ten battleships, all five battle cruisers, five out of eight light cruisers, twenty-seven out of fortynine destroyers. The total tonnage sunk approximates four hundred thousand tons. The largest ship is the Bavern, of 28,000 tons. The fleet was worth seventy millions sterling. All the crews concerned were taken in custody. They had been aboard attending the upkeep of the vessels during their internment under the terms of the armistice.— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Aesn. ESCAPING SAILORS FIRED ON SMALL NITMBRR KILLED OR WOUNDED. (Rec. June 23. 0.40 a.m.) London, June 21. The Admiralty states that the battleship Bad?n and four destroyers are still afloat. Three light cruisers and eighteen destroyers were boa«hcd by falvagiiiK 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.—United Service. AN INQUIRY DEMANDED . ARRANGEMENTS FOB BOARDING VESSELS FORESTALLED. (Rec Juno 23, 1 a.m.) London, June 22. The newspapers are aghast at the Scapa Flow sensation, and deruaud an inquiry, porting out that the fillips were placed i.'i the custody of the British Navy as trustee for the Allies. The German Ensign was hoisted on all the ships before they were sunk. The Baden is now flying the White Ensign over the German flap. The first warship sarik # at midday,' 'and the others were settling down nil 4.30 in the afternoon, when the last Dreadnought turned turtle. Several Germane 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 havo passed into the possession of the Allies. The largest ships were sunk to a depth of 120ft.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. , v