THE GERMAN FLEET

Taranaki Daily News, 23 June 1919, Page 5

THE GERMAN FLEET

SUNK BY THE HUNS. At Scapa Flow. Forty-six Out of Seventy-two Vessels Disappear. The British Aghast, Received June 22, 5.5 pjn.

London, June 20. A sensational, ibut unconfirmed, rumor ■is being circulated in London that practically the whole of the German fleet at Scapa Flow has been sunk by the crews, who first hoisted the German flag. [Later, the Admiralty stated that certain of the interned German ships at Scapa Flow were abandoned by the crews and that tha latter will >bs detained in eafe custody.—Aus. N.Z. Qable Assoc. Received June 22, 11.5 p.m.

t London, June 21. , German sailors in custody at Scapa Flow, engaged in attending to the upkeep of the fleet, scuttled some of the ships "by opening the sea-cocks. After the vesds sank the men swam ashore.—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn.

Received June 23, 12.5 a.m London, June 22. The Germans sank forty-six out of seventy-two Worships at Scapa Flow as follows:

Nine out of ten battleships. All the five battle-cruisers. Five out of eight of the light cruisers. Twenty-seven out of forty-nine destroyers.

The total tonnage sunk approximates four hundred thousand tonß.

The largest ship is the Bayern, 28,000 tons. The fleet is worth seventy millions sterling. All the crews concerned were taken into custody. They had been aboard attending to the upkeep of the vessels during internment under the terms of the armistice. Received June 23, 12.20 am. London, June 21. The Admiralty states that the battleship Baden and four destroyers are still afloat. Three light cruisers and eighteen destroyers were beached by the salvaging tugs. Several boats, containing the escaping t German crews, refused to stop, and were fired upon by the British warships. A small number of Germans were killed or wounded.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

Received June 23, 1 ajn. London, June 21. Newspapers are aghast at the Scapa Flow.sensation, and demand an inquiry, pointing out that the ships were placed in the custody of the British Navy as trustee for the Allies.

The German ensign was hoisted on all the ships before they were sunk. The Baden is now flying the white ensign over the German flag. The first warship was sunk at midday. The others were settling down till* 4 30 in the afternoon, when the last dreadnought turned turtle.

Several Germans swam to the Island of Caint,

Arrangements had been made to board the ships on Monday in the event of peace being signed, hnd they thus would have possed into the possession of the Allies.

The largest ships have been sunk to a depth of 120 feet.—Aug.-N.Z. Cable Assn.