Sunken German Ships.

Taihape Daily Times, 30 June 1919, Page 5

Sunken German Ships.

FRENCH CLAIMS SATISFIED

I DIVERGENT GERMAN VIEWS PARIS, June 27. { “Le Petit Journal” commenting on [the sinking of the German fleet, rclcalls that France claimed a portion, [and the demands of France were.Vcomi pcnsated :by enemy submarines being «entrusted to her, also a ‘”number of {German merchantmen. ' COPENHAGEN. June 27. ,- The sinking of the German fleet is condemned by the German Left ‘Press and‘- praised by the Right. The l“Loka1 Anzeiger” speaks of “brave ';men pl'eferri_ng death to dishonourf,’ I E THE SCAPA FLOW SENSATION. THE FINAL SCENE. Q LONDON, June 24.

J The marine artist to the American iGover-nment, Mr. Gribble. while cruisling around the German. fieét aboard ithe captured trawler Sochosin, comimanded by Lieut. Leeth, was astoniished to see the ships b’eP;in to disiappear. He first noticed the sailors ion the Frederick der Grossc and lF‘rankfurt throwing their baggage into -boats at headlong speed, and following themselves He asked Lieul-T. ‘Leah, “Do you allow them joy rides?” Lieut_ Leeth looked, hesitated lfllen exclaimed “By‘ joye, thé}'*"l‘e lseuttling and abandoning the ships.” ‘He ordered the Germans to return or ‘he would fire. The Germaiis cried, ;“We’ve not got oars,’-’ A British sailor ‘threw oars into the water, exclaiming "_‘Here you are, youswine.” The boats lcontinued to approach," despite the rwarning of the officers. The Gerimans br-a7'enly and impudently demanded to be taken aboard the 50621posin, As they persisted, Lieutenant §Lee.th ordered the crew to open fire. {A Germarr oificer roared “You’ve kill--led four or my men,” Lieutenant 'Leeth‘ replied, “Get "hack to your , ships_”’ The oflieer repliéd: "‘We can't; they’re '4 sinking.;’ As he spoke the"Frederi“ck der ‘Grosse {the coastguards, requesting them ‘to lwireless the Grand Fleet It was two Fhonrs before the first destroyer arriv,e(l. Meanwhile the Germans daringly ;endeavoured to board the Soehosin. i The crew were compelled to keep them left with revolvers. One after another the German vessels li'S’r‘le'd, tifi-"fl”e'cl turtle and sink. The sea was dotted with German crews in boats, who cheered as she sank. The “Hindemburg,” hoisted the German efi'sign. The Others had two Code flags at the peak, which Mr. Gri=bble”the previous da'_\7 noticed flying‘ on they Emden, the Whole fleet answering. The Se_y.dlit'z turned ‘turtle, but I'en_rain.cd . visible. The Sochosin kept’ passing over the sunken vessels, signalled and sounding hooters. She noticed a number of abandoned ‘steam pinnances from the battleships and lifebelts were floating. Apparently the pinnance, crew were drowned. _ } Destroyers seeing the Flmeden in; ‘trouble, attempted to take ‘her in tow,i but amidst the confusion one vessel! collided with and smashed the Em-i dcn’s gangways. Ultimately they sue-I ceecled in benching the Emden. ‘ VON REUTER’S OPPORTUNITY. 1 LONDON, June 24. E In the House of Commons, Mr. Lam—i bert said Von Router would have en» countered no difficulty in circulating‘ orders to scuttle the ships since ‘he was allowed to visit ships for the p‘ur- : pose of maintaining discipline. When so doing he was conducted to and! from the ships in :1 British boat, Puting British guards aboard the Ger-‘ man ships would unerrestionably have been a breach of the terms of the’ armistice. Britain acted as she hadl acted in every other nratter, obeying?! the terms of the armistice and adhcr-. ing to the laws of war and honour-_ 3

A WARNING TO THE ALLI-ES. LONDON June 27. Int-cerviou-illg prior ‘to the boarding the Mnurefania, Sir J. G. Ward said the scuttlings at Scapa Flow and the burning of the French flags wo‘uld be a sterlflesson to.the Allies that they must - zealous}y watch the fulfilment of every undertaking in_the Peace Treaty. - .