ADMIRALTY DENIAL

Hokitika Guardian, 19 June 1917, Page 1

ADMIRALTY DENIAL

OF GERMAN CHARGES. Renter’s Telegrams.) London, June 15 The Admiralty emphatically denies the German wireless accusation of inhumanity against British destroyers which engaged the German torpedo boats on June SUI, sinking S 20, and seriously damaging three others. The Germans declare that the English left between 20 and 25 Germans in the water, although the sea was smooth and further rescues would not have entailed danger. The facts are that portion ol V S 20’s crew remained on deck and trained a torpedo tube on the rescuing torpedo boat after a boat had'been lowered and was actually picking up the survivors. The commander of the torpedo boat continued his efforts, but the Germans had evidently been ordered to avoid capture and swam away. The commander recalled the boat on three enemy seaplanes appearing overhead. The shore batteries meanwhile repeatedly bit the torpedo boat’s upper works. Nothing more could possibly have been done and the commander had already incurred grave risks. The Admiralty refers to the statement of Chief-Gunner Schmidt, who was the last man to leave S 20. He declares that swimmers attempted to cling to the English torpedo boat’s cutter, which , bad concluded her work of salvation, after picking up seven. Apparently the cutter’s crew was ordered to bring back only seven for the purpose of examining them. The boat’s officer ordered two German non-commissioned officers to let go and put a pistol to the chest of one who pleaded that a shell splinter had mangled his leg. A sailor struck the other 011 the fingers with a sword and both were drowned. - Schmidt swears that the cutter had sufficient room for 20 more and there was nothing preventing their rescue. Later two destroyers passed within 300 metres ol the drifting men without heeding them. The Chief Engineer declares that the English jeered iu response to his calls.