HIGH SEAS EXECUTIONERS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 232, 10 March 1915, Page 6

HIGH SEAS EXECUTIONERS.

nOW BRITISH SEAMEN WERE TREATED I!Y GERMAN SQUADRON. A scathing indictment of the conduct of Admiral Von Spec and his squadron at the battle of Coronel on November 1 is contained in a Chilian paper, La Patric, published at Santiago de Chili. It is headed "High Seas Executioners," and the writer, M. A. Verbruggken, says: "I attest the absolute truth of the undermentioned facts: "I have contracted more moral obligations towards the persons who have revealed them, but 1 trust these persons will find it honorable to release me whenever I am sued for defamation. "With this expectation do I assume the entire responsibility of these lines, and defy the German or Gennanophile Press to prove the inaccuracy thereof. ONLY SIX. "During the call at Valparaiso of the German flotilla —a German subject--a clergyman—went on board and asked to see the wounded. "In the first ship visited that permission was denied him, and the report of 'six wounded' as communicated to the public was maintained. "The German subject then called on the second ship, where an officer confidentially informed him that the Germans had 130 woumlcj on board.

"Whn questioned on the state of the sea during the battle, the officer admitted that it \va3 heavy with brisk wind, but without anything excessive. "''Why, then,' asked the clergyman, 'did you not rescue the crews of the ships sunk'/' "The reply was: " 'We *had orders not to rescue anyone.' BRUTES. "As the German subject was a normally civilised person, he turned to the officer and said: 'I knew there were some brutes in our territorial army; I now see that there are also some in our navy as well.' "Those who might hesitate in view cf the seriousness of the revelation should remember certain details: "Von Spec said that he saw the Monmouth sink in a few minutes' time, that he lost sight of the Good Hope—which was burning—and that a terrible storm prevented him from sending assistance to i the victims. I "We know, from different sources, the real state of the atmosphere and s°a then prevailing. There is no doubtt that, under the circumstances, the fire on board the Good Hope would suffice to indicate where she was. Then, it cannot be admitted that the German flotilla I would have allowed such a fine prey to I escape, Now that ?liip, a« ;„ e ~..s she is reckoned a total ioss—coUli not have escaped had she tried to; o!ic could easily have been reached by the five or six ships that chased her. "The likelihood of the German report i could be admitted r-. long as it was be- | lieved the Good Hope was about undam- | aged. Now, however, that her loss is reckoned, it cannot be admitted that she could escape the chase, at any time. "There are, therefore, three flagrant lies on the report of the German squadron's officers, without counting the ridiculous bluff . . . stating that they had six men and a parroj wounded. "The night was not dark. "The sea was nokraging. "The Good Hope could not escape.

STUPIDITY. "There exists a crafty theory by which' lies may be excused, and sundry fallacies have rested upon it, but I know of no doctrine by which lies are justified witli the necessity of hiding one's stupidity. In fact, William's soldiers have not lied for their country's sake, but just to hide their own crime. "Now comes the tragical truth: "With clear weather, on a scarcely heavy sea, and at the end of a naval battle 1800 Englishmen, who had behaved nobly, have boon precipitated to the bottom of the sea. "There were thousands of men, wearing the uniform of the German marine, wito agisted at this dranw from the decks of their snips. _ "Eighteen hundred human beings, fighting against death; the amazed horror of these forlorn persons who expectetd resistance, and had a right to it; heads disappearing one by one n'ter desperate signals and appeals, swept away by the waves and annihilated one after the other. "They have been able to stand that view, leaning on their taffrails as if they, were at a spectacle. That horrible sight did not prevent them from landing on Chilian soil, with smiling lips, to receive the enthusiastic 'Hoch!' of their countrymen. The captain of this port, not su'spcting what occurred, shook hands with the admiral. "Oh, brutes! Ignoble brutes!"