GERMAN FLEET

Taranaki Daily News, 25 June 1919, Page 5

GERMAN FLEET

THE FRENCH INDIGNANT,

GERMANS ELATED.

By Telegraph.—Preas Aisn.—Copyright. London, June -22, The Admiralty is observing the closest aecrecy N and has forbidden newspaper representatives to enter the Orkneys. Probably the full story will not be revealed until Tuesday, when emergency, questions will be asked in the House of Commons.

The Baden was removed from her anchorage on Sunday and beached, therefore none of the German ships axe now afloat Mr. Archibald _ Hurd says that it is understood Admiral von Reuter states that he believed the armistice had terminated, and accepted full responsibility for the sinking,'which was in accordance with the order given at the beginning of the war that no German man-of-war be surrendered. The excuse does not deserve serious consideration.

Admiral yon Reuter and 1800 men of the crews are now prisoners. , An eye-witness .on board a steamer on which 200 * Stromness children were enjoying a cruise round the German fleet telle a graphic story of the sinking. It waa noticed the enemy crews were unnsuaßy quiet, and suddenly a drifter warned the steamer to keep dear, of the German ships, which were now the scene of bustle and excitement, the German eagle being run up to each Tlie vesesls slowly and noiselessly settled down, and the Bailors on the British vessels were as powerless as children to prevent the disappearance of the fleet. There was a violent explosion on the epot where one German ship sunk, and a pillar of wreckage and water rose several hundred feet. There was a similar explosion in the hull of a partially I submerged destroyer,\ which immediately j heeled over and disappeared. The naval authorities have found von Renter's orders of a recent date for the sinking of the ships. Six Germans were killed and ten wounded-while attempting to escape when ordered to stop. None of the navigable channels of Scapa Plow were blocked . It is questionable whether salvage operations would justify the expense. Naval writere regard the scuttling as a good riddance. The vessels were very neglected, and their distribution would have proved an embarrassment, and their maintenance would have involved heavy expenditure, including the manufacture tof special types of guns, torpedoes and ammunition. It is unlikely that" the scuttling plot was hatched at Weimar, as it will only I embarrass the new Government. Rve battle-cruisers and ten battleships were sunk and the Baden was beached; five light cruisers were sunk and three beached; 28 destroyers were rank, 20 were beached, and two are afloat

It is authoritatively denied that the crew ? were periodically relieved when the •ppply ships arrived from.Germany, but the vesels lay so dose that it was difficult to prevent commnafcatioft. The British frequently assisted in quelling

A German officer wearing the Iron Cross boastfully minted to the sinkimshiOT and said: "See how they go down n I^L? a8 "-. fl7Ia S" He s P° k « <»«> soon; British sailors boarded ship after ship nk down the fl «gs before they

_ , . Paris, Jane 23. The press is indignant at the sinking the German ships at Scapa Flow. Btoe deplore British negligence; others pornt out that France expected a share of the ships, and infer that France would claim compensation from the Allies.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc.

„ Copenhagen, Jnne 23, "erman newsDftpera are elated. B«rrt IWir Bktt praises the feat/fat fom tiie Entente "trill make an add!nonal monetary claim. The MJttag Zeitung proudly boasts 3ler resolve never to let England keepthe ships. Weimar advices state that theGennan SwwßH^giS 61 an 4in

nn. r, London, .Tune 22. iJ? 6 Fr 0 "! 11 ? NeWB that it has been definitelv ascertained that the scuttling of the ships was planned in Berlin, and that the relief crews recently brought instructions. t

I CARRYING OUT EX-KAISER'S COMMAND. , London, June 23. Ada«»l vo« Renter has been arrested. He states that the ex-Kaiser issued an Jn• i tt l? M neTer to permit ships to fwl into th® eoemy'g hands. It i» officially stated that it is intends s'My the Frankfort and Nuremburg, but not to aalva the others, which are lying m from 12 to 20 fathoms, maWnrit unnecessary to blow then} '

VON REUTER'S OWN ACT.

I Received Jnne 2i, 10.30 p.m. [-j i London, June 22. l The Admiralty consider that AdmiraP Ton Reuter ordered the acuttling of the Met.at Scapa without instructions:from .Berlin.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.