“DER TAG.”

Taihape Daily Times, 25 November 1918, Page 5

“DER TAG.”

DIFFERENT TO GERMAN EX

FLOTATION,

LONDON, November 22

<<Der tag” proved very different to the expectations entertained in German naval circles four years ago. It was a fine moonlight night when the Allied fleets weighed anchor tat three o’clock in the morning, and proceeded to the place of rendezvous, sixty miles from the Scotch coast. Admiral Beatty put to sea in two single lines six miles apart, to enable the surendering fleet to come up the centre. At 9.30 the leading German ship was seen miles taway. She proved to be the battle cruiser Seydlitz, flying Commodore Tagert’s pennon, and she was followed by the Derfflinger, Moltke, Hindenburg, and Von Dcr Tann. The Allied fleet was instructed not to relax its vigilance, and if any nonsense "had been attempted they were ready for immediate action. However, the arrangement as completed without a hitch.

; The surrendering ships approached in single column three cables length apart. The battleships w r ere followed by light cruisers, which were three miles astern. They passed between the Allied linos in stately procession.

Not a sound was heard in the Allied lines while the Germans passed; then Admiral B'eatty, in the Queen Elizabeth, came through the lines, and the men of every ship gave vent to their repressed emotions. It was an amazing demonstration of affection for the admiral.

There have been some grumbles in French newspapers that the Allies have not confiscated all the German ships, blit it is pointed out that every German capital ship built since 1910, excepting the Lutzow and the Worth, is now in the Firth of Forth, where they are being examined before being interned at Scapa Flow.

In connection with the surrender of the second batch of nineteen submarines the battleship Heligoland, unarmed, led them to Harwich. The commander of one submarine angrily ejaculated: "We will be back for them soon.”