The sun., 1917-10-11
Radicals Threaten Govern.
ment as Won Capelle
Denounces Deputies.
ARMY REPORTS REVOLT
Hiding Of U-Boats' Fate by
British Skaters Morale
of Sailors.
U. S. OFFICERS ELATED
Uprising Called Most Ominous
Sign-Four Battleships and
Other Craft Seized.

OtHeF CraIC SelZe0.
AMsrERDAM, Oct 10.-As a result Of
q mutiny in the German navy, involving
at least four battleships. . sensational
debate took place in the Reichstag yes
terday which resulted in charges vir-
tually amounting to treason being made
against several Of the members. The de-
bate was probably the most exciting Of
the whole war. The German press does
not attempt to minimize the fact that
1t is certain to have a profound effect
upon public opinion.
News Of tho mutiny has been SUD.
pressed for six weeks and was permit.
ted to become public only when IL was
an open secret here and in Copenhasen.
Rigorous measures were taken in it's
suppression. some Of the mutineers being
shot and others receiving long prison
sentences
| The position of the whole militart,t
element In Germany has been jeopar-
died The disclosures resulting from
the naval trouble have shaken the en-
tire structure OF the Government. There
Is every reason to believe that the Pan
German cause has suffered a blow from
which it will have dificulty in recover.
ing.
The mutiny took place at Wiihelms-
maven One of the battleships was the
"esttaIen. whose captain was thrown
overheard and drowned. Tho crews
landed. Marines refused to fire on theun.
WheHoOOOn aOldiera
ors who surrendered. This uprising In
said to have had all the elements Of q
widespread and organized revolt, and to
have been suppressed only with the
greatest difficulty.
On the warship Nurnberg. which vac
at sea. the men seized the officers and
proceeded in the direction Of Norway.
with the intention of being interned Ths
Nurnherg was overtaken BY destroyera
and forced to surrender.
"A hague despatch says that according
to the report there the mutinous battle-
ships included the Luitpold and the
! Kaiser.
ouf"reahs Reported at Front.
Several mutinous outbreaks also are
reported TO havo occurred among eol.
diers AZ the front.
Emperor William went to Wilhelms.
haven and ordered that one out Of eyery
! seven OF the naval mutineers be shof
Chancellor Michaelis protested, with the
result that only three were shot. Heavy
sentences Were imposed on the others.
The Chancellor's objection TO the EN-
perors order was on the ground that he
could not assume such responsibility be-
fore the Reichstag
One Of the reasons for the mut,ny
was bad and inadequate food.
In tho Roicbsta~
nouncing that plot had been dscov-
cred to paralyze the fleet Vice Admiral
Won Capelle. the Minister Of Marine. Il
quoted in a Berlin despatch as saying:
1T Is unfortunately a sad fact that
the Russian revolution turned the heads
or some persons In our navy and intro
duced revolutionary ideas among them.
Their insensate plan was to recruit rep
resentatives on all the ships to cause
the crews to refuse TO obey orders, to
paralyze the fleet and force peace upon
the country.
ut is proved that the principal agita-
tor conferred In this building with tho
Independent Socialist faction in the
Reichs,ag. explained his plans to Depu-
ties DIttman, Haase and Vogtherr, and
obtained their approval.
Il cannot make statement here on
the subsequent events which occurred In
tho navy. The few persons who forgot
their honor and their duty suffered the
penalty which they deserved. can
only say that the rumors which are IN
circulation are immeasurably exaEge-
rated. Tho combative force OF the
navy was NOT threatened for a single
moment, and things will remain as they
are"
At the conclusion OF Adinirsl Won Ca
pelles statement in the Reichstax on
the mutiny in the German navy there
we're scenes Of most dusorderly char
acter. the shouts from the other Depu-
ties being heard loud above the furious
Interruptions OF the Socialists
The Centrist member, Herr Trimborr.
declared that II the three Deputies
named by Admiral Won Capelle had
transgressssd the law il would he r.
question OF high treason. The Conserva-
tive member. Herr kretch. said II the
three men were guilty their parliament
ary immunity must be rescinded and
. that they must be prosecuted. "If the
charges are true this member con-
t!nued, Tho German language contains
no words strong enough TO hrand such
action"
Ebert Warns Government.
, Herr Ebert, the Socialist leader. said
the Government ought 10 have consid-
cred the effect OF such grave charges
on domestic and foreign politics. Tho
material that Admiral Won Capelle had
produced. he added. did not justify his
charge against the Independent Social
lists, and the Chancellor had set ona
party outside the pale at moment
when difficult situation neceesitated
the utmost unity.
I'VE regard it our duty TO fght with
-n our strength Government which In
, slges In such policy" Herr Ebert
concluded.
After the statement OF Admiral vol,
Cupelle Deputies Dittmsn, Haasr and
Nogthcrr denied the correctness OF his
assertion They had conferred with tho
sailors, they said, but no such plan az
Admiral Won Capele alleged was sub
mitted and received their approval.
They added that the Admiral aimed at