" THE DAY."

Hokitika Guardian, 19 December 1918, Page 4

" THE DAY."

SURRENDER OF THE GERMAN FLEET. PAGEANT IN THE NORTH SEA. (Bv Keith Murdoch, Australian Press Representative.) (.Melbourne Herald Cable.) Oil Board IL.M.A.S. Australia. NORTH SEA, Nov. '22 ••Her Tag”—the day of decision, with the German fleet out at last. Me met them 40 miles east of Inohkeith, in the Firth of Forth, ready for action, with every man in the Allied squadrons : ,t Hattie stations, the guns ranged, though not pointed upon the Germans, and shells in the scuttles alongside the breeches. But 40 years’ ambitions of a great Empire had suddenly crumbled to I nothing, its ships, though looking formidable and sinister in the North Sea’s sunlit hn/.e, which endowed their outlines with an appearance of immense, mystic strength, were bereft of the will to' fight. ‘‘Dor Tag” provided only another majestic spectacle of British sea might.

LIGHT-FLOODED DECKS. For the first time in,the war the Grand Fleet showed navigation lights as the vessels loft the Firth of Forth in the very early hours of the morning to receive the surrender of the second greatest navy in the world, built for the British fleet’s destruction. As we steamed back to-night we opened every porthole, flooded * the docks with light, and lit up the gangways with spangled ribbons of electric lights, well-known in Sydney Harbour. For tli.e war was over. This ship is known as one ot the most unlucky in the Grand Fleet. It missed Admiral von Spec in the Pacific, missed the Dogger Bank engagement by ji few days, and was absent from the Jutland battle because it had been docked after an unfortunate collision with the New Zealand. But, apait from the value of its mere presence here, it has deserved well of tlie Empire, and retains an honourable place as flagship of the second battlecruiser squadron, which loads the Allied Fleet seaward, and is the ship nearest tho enemy. It has done more work in the matter of miles steamed than any Dreadnought in the world, and during the last two years it lias been at sea as much as it hits been in harbour. It has led its squadron first under Rear-Ad-miral Sir William Pakonham’s, then Rear-admiral A. C. Leveson’s, and now Rear-Admiral Sir Lionel Halsey’s flag on most important convoy duties, and in great sweeps with the fleet toward Heligoland, sometimes getting into the Sound, resting now at Scapa Flow, in the Orkneys. Forsyth, Firth of Forth, but never unready for action excepting when it bsa been docked. It lias never been steaming less than 20 knots, and it, never knew when it .was leaving its base whether it would return to Australia. It owes a great tribute to these tvpieal Australians on board, who have retained the distinctive identity of the ship and have shown tho true Australian eagerness to fight, carrying out their war duties with a thoroughness which was tvpieal of the men. SOLDI HRS ON BOARD. Thus, after an immense and seemingly limitless stream of lighter craft had passi'd us in the darkness steaming boldly out through the trebly notice and mined gates of the River Forth, our Squadron--Australia, Now Zealand, Inflexible, and ' Indomitable—led the Grand Fleet. .Nearly 40 Dreadnoughts put- out to sea for the final net of triumph. The. Australian llag flew front the jack-staff and the Naval Ensign, worked with silk hv Australian women, and given to Bear-admiral Sir Lionel Halsey.hv the Australian Society of St. George, floated above the first fighting top. We carried a number of Australian soldiers who were spending their furlough in Edinburgh, and claimed Admiral Halsey’s indulgence for taking part in the historic cruise. The manoeuvres brought us to the head of the southern 1 im* of an immense avenue of Allied ships through which the German ships submissively steamed. The whole procession passed a vast array of stately ships, stretching as far and further east and west than the eye could reach. Our squadron steamed home, bringing up.the rear of the heavy ships and faking our place on the northern side of a great square west of Inchkeith, into which the surrendered vessels .were locked for the night. NEW EM.DEX INSPECTED. The Sydney and Melbourne, with the Australian flag bravely unfolded passed in the night as part of Admiral Sinclair’s light cruiser squadron. Then, turning, they took charge of the two nearest German cruisers, the Karlsruhe and the, Einden. The latter lias aniron cross painted on her bows, but the Melbourne's men found her dirty and sloppy, though undoubtedly a-beautifully Imilt, well-gunned and engined vessel. Our search parties stayed on hoard only a brief hour, postponing a full search until to-morrow. The Australia’s party had the duty of inspecting tho Hindcnburg, an impressive new battle-cruiser well worthy of a place in the Australian Navy. Our officers were received sullenly but respectfully. Thert- were only 10 German officers for 700 men, and till authority seemed to have passed to a number of men weaving white armbands, with the worths “Soldaten unci Abetter.” Another boarding party reported the presence of a frock-coated, long-bearded civilian wearing ail armlet, but in general the sailors seemed content under the old naval ensign. There was no sign of the Red Flag. The officers, who were sulky and sad, wore tvpieal Prussians. OFFICERS REFUSED TO COME. Throughout the Hindcnburg soldiers’ revolutionary proclamations were posted. The ship was in a filthy condition, though the hoarding party could not help admiring many contrivances, seen by British eyes for the first time in turrets, engine rooms, and conning towers. Only one German admiral came out, Admiral von Reuter, who took command of the German battlecruiser squadron after Admiral von .nippers’ promotion. Admiral von Reuter commanded the whole fleet, while commodores’ flags flew from the leaders of the cruiser destroyer squadrons. Apparently many German officers refused to come. Throughout our fleet the comment ■ was that the Germans must he ill a terrible plight before the officers and men could submit to such humiliation as a submissive crawl into a British port of these magnificent warships. To-day a thanksgiving service was held on each of the Australian ships. To-night ended the war for our navy, which will soon he freed for going home. It was it stirring reminder of those midnight services upon the calm .Egean Sea, which preceded and consecrated our landing at Gallipoli three years and a-lialf ago.

ADMIRAL BEATTY’S THANKS. Admiral Beatty sent the following historic message to every ship:— I wish to express to flag officers, captains, and officers and men of the Grand Fleet my congratulations on the victory which lias been gained over the sea power of our enemy. The greatness of this achievement is in no way lessened by the fact that the final action did I not take the form of.a fleet action. Although deprived of this'opportunity. for which we had so long and eagerly waited, and of striking a final blow for the freedom of the world, we may derive satisfaction from the singular tribute which the enemy lias accorded to the Grand Fleet. .Without joining us in action lie lias given testimony to the prestige and efficiency of our licet without parallel in history, and it has to he remembered that this testimony lias been accorded by those who are in the host position to judge. I desire to express my thanks and appreciation to all who Inn o assisted in maintaining the fleet in readiness for instant action, and borne the arduous and exacting labours which have been necessary for perfecting the efficiency which has acomplisbed so much. NAVAL POWER ROTTED. The extent to which Germany’s naval power lias rotted is almost unbelievable. This slinking surrender ot her biggest and best ships, a thing unparalleled in history, was a striking if rough proof of the collapse of her boasted naval spirit, (.lose examination of the vessels by small boarding parties of officers, however brought details which, if not dramatic, were equally convincing. When asked to increase liis speed Admiral von Reuter replied by wireless that his ship could not make more than 10 knots an hour. The rusty sides of the vessels indicated neglected bottoms, dirty engines and boilers and choked stokeholes. The Kaiser carried only three officers for GOO men, but the latter apparently lounged about, smoking cigarettes. Everywhere they ignored the officers, taking their orders only from the armloted Soviets, of whom a representative followed every officer on duty, transferring his requests to the men if they were approved. The officers retained their right to have special cabins, hut it was easy to see, why only the minimum number, necessary for navigating the ships would come out to meet the Allied fleets.

KAISER’S PICTURE SHOWN. The Hindeiilmrg the Kaiser, and other vessels had all their brass and copper fittings replaced by iron, while the Einden seemed to have been built upon a minimum ration of metals. Even her guns showed little copper. In general the smallness of the gun fittings surprised the British experts. The breeches were missing from tbc Hindenburg’s guns, but perhaps this was to prove that the Germans would not have fired at the British under any consideration. All the vessels smelt badly, showing plainly they had been neglected for many weeks. Indeed, our officers estimate that the condition of the ships show that the German fleet has been rotting since June, and that the acceptance of an action in October would have been the sheerest suicide. A strange commentary on the men’s attitude towards the Kaiser is shown on the undamaged condition of large portraits of Wihelm and Field Marshal yon llindenburg hanging in the captain’s cabin. NORTH SEA!, Nov. 23. A close search of the German ships commenced at 9 o’clock and continued throughout the day. After this the first four sections steamed under heavy escort for the Scapa Flow, in the Orkney Islands, north of Scotland. Those remaining in the Forth will follow daily until the whole set of relics of Germany’s pretentious anti-British ambitions is moored amid the . bleak .and icy surroundings where the Grand Fleet spent the greater part of its long virgil. A new sense of buoyancy and relief animates the crews of these hundreds ol British ships. The immediate thought is of leave, long and ample. The majority of tile sailors have had less leave than the soldiers at the front. Now they wonder if the British navy, in smashing .the Gorman power, has brought about its own immediate drastic reduction. The officers discuss cruises to the dominions. This ship patient ly awaits its recall to Australia, with the cruisers.

I hear that Admiral Beatty refused to meet the Soviets’ delegates on the Konigsbcrg because they did not represent any stable Government. German sailors ranged along tbe ship rails today, jeered a party of flag officers’ wives who steamed round. Some yelled: “When will you send beef to the ship?” The German destroyers are dirty, and the machinery is rusty.

TILE SURRENDER OF THE SUBMARINES. TMPOSIXG CEREMONV. It was a wondrous sight (The Times account says)'in the early morn on the moonlit North Sea. to witness Rearadmiral Sir R. Y. Tyrwhitt’s squadron, combined with the Harwich forces, which have borne the brunt of practically all the naval encounters since 1914, speeding out toward the Dutch coast to meet the surrendering U-boats. Rear-admiral Tyrwhitt’s flagship Curacao led the squadron, followed by light cruisers, destroyers, and other

ships in line. Navigation lights "ere showing, and airships and observation balloons were overhead, l opshaped devices, called “Parvenus,” were dropped overboard to divert the course of floating mines. Everybody donned lifebelts Rear-admiral Tyrwhitt received the accompanying journalists on board his flagship. As he shook hands he remarked. “Wo are on the eve of interviewing “The Day.”. Our only drawback inav be a little log.” ORDER SAID NO CHEERING. The German U-boats were seen in line soon after 7 o’clock in the morning, accompanied by two German destroyers, for the return of the crews. The L.boats wore not flying flags. They approached with their guns trained fore and aft, in accordance with the terms of the surrender; and the British gun crews took up their stations, ready for any attempted treachery. Then followed the historic momentThe leading German destroyer, in response to our flagship’s signal turned toward England. The U-boats were ordered to follow. As they passed the flotilla of destroyers the Melampus, whose commander recently gained -the D.S.O. for sinking a U-boat signalled a characteristic order: “No cheering ot noise of any kind while the U. boats are passing.!” Amid perfect silence the U. boats came to a standstill between the lines of- waiting cruisers and destroyers. The humiliating procession was the last-symbol of the Gcimau sea oower, the U. boats following a British ship like sheep following a

shepherd. U. BOAT 300 FEET LONG. In the van was a destroyer belonging to our unbeaten navy, and behind came the cruel pirate craft which were intend ed to snbjudgate the seas. The crews silently lined the decks of the grey wolves, which included a famous submarine cruiser measuring 300 ft. in length and elaborately camouflaged, which mounted six Bin. guns by the great wheel-house. The British, submarine crews, wearing white sweaters, embarked in launches, and entered the U boats to bring them to Harwich, and the German crews were sent aft. A British commander navigated the first under-water craft, and the German commanders took charge of the remainder. In perfect silence the four divisons ot submarines with their destroyer guards and with British aircraft passing and repassing overhead, steamed toward Harwich. Rear-Admiral Tyrwhitt had issued an order forbidding fraternisation among the British and German sailors, which was not attempted. The surrender throughout was marked by stern British civility and suppressed enemy surliness. The German officers were ' markedly dejected, particularly when they wore called upon to sign a declaration that the U. boats were in

running order, that the torpedoes had been unloaded, and similar statements. The final scene was when the flotilla steamed into Harwich, with the White Ensign hoisted on each U boat and the German flag underneath. The U. boats are now berthed in Harwich Harbour.