Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1917-10-11
GERMAN SAILORS
REFUSE TO FIGHT
Throw Officer Overheard and Sur.
render to Army; Mutineers Are
Ordered Shot

Amsterdam, Oct. 10. A mutiny
among the crews of four battleships
Of the German fleet has occurred at
Wilhelmshaven. One of these bat
tleships was the Westfalen, whose
captain was thrown overheard and
drowned. The crews landed. Ma
rines refused to fire on them, where
upon soldiers surrounded the sailors,
who surrendered.
A mutiny also is reported on the
German warship Nurnberg, which
was at sea. The men sized the
offices and proceeded in the direc-
tion of Norway, with the intention
of being interned. The Nurnberg
was overtaken by destroyers and
forced to surrender.
Emperor William went to Will
helmshaven and ordered that one out
of every seven mutincers be shot.
Chancellor Michaels protested, with
the result that only three were shot.
Sentences aggregating 200 years pen
al servitude were imposed on the
others. One of the reasons for the
mutiny was bad and indequate food.
German Morals Breaking
Washington, ID. c., Oct. 10. Few
dispatches since the war began have
created more interest at the navy de-
partmnt than today's report from
Amsterdam telling of revolt in the
German navy. Officers unhesitat-
ingly declared the story, so far not
confirmed in official reports, was one
Of the most encouraging signs of the
year for the allies and probably one
of the most ominous from the Ger
man view They pointed out that
while the allied powers have noted
repeatedly recently in their official
statements, that the morale of the
German troops was declining and OBJ
servers have believed that the end
would come in food and labor riots
or perhaps in a political revolt,
there has been nothing to suggest
the iron discipline of the German
military system had lost its hold over
the fighting millions in the slight
est degree.
The declining morale on the west
ern front noted, it was said, has
shown itself in the feeble character
of counter attacks as compared to
the all but irresistible drive a year
ago. Assault after assault has dash
eu itself to pieces before the French
and British trenches.
Navy Revolt More Serious
The revolt in the army, these of.
ficers said, was more serious mat
ter for Germany. The sailors gen.
orally have not been subjected to
the bsttering of the guns day after
day, month after month. They in
sisted that if there is discomfort
among the sailors with their condi-
ton, it must be even greater in the
army.
AS one possible explanation of the
navy revolt, they pointed out that
ever since submarine warfare was
started by the Germans, the British
have adopted the consistent policy
of supressing Information as to the
fate of the submarines sent to the
bottom by their patrols. The po-
1icy was adopted as a deliberate
method of breaking down the morale
of the submarine crews.
Crews for the U-boats are under
stood to be drafted from the high.
seas fleet as needed. The big ships
are practically idle. They have
done little since the North sea fight
but steam out to target practice be-
hind mine protected zones For the
men of the ships there has been little
but the deadly routine of this bust
ness. varied only by call for duty
and probable death to the submarine