South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-11-21
EYE WITNESS
TELLS STORY Of
SUB SURRENDER
U-BoatS Appear OFF Coast of
Holland at DaWn-ProCeed
to British Port Where
They CapituIate.

LONDON Nov. 21.--( British wire
less service THE following account
OF the surrender OF the urst batch
OF 10 German submarines which was
accomplished this morning at sea
is given by an eyewitness of the in
cident More than so other Ger
man submarines are TO be handed
over 10 the allied naval command
before the end OF the week
After steaming some 20 miles
across the North sea the Harwich
forces which consisted of i've light
cruisers and 20 destroyers were
sighted The flagship OF Admiral
Tyrwhitt the commander was the
Curacao. High above the squadron
hung a big observation balloon
Steam Toward Dutch Coast.
The squadron headed by the flag
ship then steamed toward the Dutch
coast followed by the Coventry
Dragon Danal and Centaur. other
ships followed in line with their
navigation lights showing The pic
ture was a noble one as the great
vessels, with the moon still shining
ploughed their way to take part in
the surrender of the German L
boats
soon after the British squadron
started the "paravanes" were drop
ped overheard. These devices are
shaped like tops al divert any mines
which may be encountered, for the
vessels were now entering a mine
field.
Subs Appear at Sunrise.
Almost every one on board don
ned a lifebelt and just as the red
sun appeared above the horizon. the
first German submarine appeared in
sight
Soon after o'clock 20 subma-
rines were seen IN line accompan-
led by two German destrOyers the
Tibania and the Sierra Ventana.
which were to take the submarine
crews back 10 Germany after the
| transfer.
All the submarines were on the
surface with their matches open and
their crews standing on deck. The
vessels were flying no flags what
ever and their guns were trained
fore and aft in accordance with the
terms OF surrender
|
and all the gun crews took up 1neir
stations ready for any possible
| ,treachery.
The leading destroyer. in response
10 a signal from the admiral, turned
and led the way towards England
| and the submarines were ordered 20
follow. They Immediately did so
| The surrender had been accomplish
| ed
| Each cruiser turned. and. keeping
a careful lookout. II turned toward
Harwich. Near the ship wash light
ship three large British seaplanes.
followed by an airship. were observ-
ed. The Harwich forces and the
seaplanes and airship made a most
impressive sight.
| One Of the submarines was seen
to send up a couple Of carrier pig
| cons and at once a signal was flashed
from the admiral that IL had no
! right to do this. When the ships had
= cleared the mine field and entered
the war channel the. "paravanes'
were hauled aboard. On reaching
point some 20 miles off Harwich
the ships dropped anchor and Cap
/ hAii <AhAActA NfiAiAN WI DlA AlAt " al
ship Maidstone
British crews were then put on
board the submarines 70 take them
into harbor. With the exception Of
the engine STATS all the German
sailors remained on deck The sub
marines were then taken through
the gates OF the harbor and the
German crews were transferred 10
the transports which will take them
back 10 Germany.
As the boats went through the
gates the white insignia was run up
on each Of them with the German
flag underneath.
Each German submarine com
mander at the transfer was required
10 sign declaration 20 the effect
that his vessel was in running order.
that its periscope was intact that its
tOrpedoes were unlOaded and that
its torpedo heads were safe.
Orders had been issued fOrbidding
any demonstration and these in
structions were obeyed 70 the let
ter. There was perfect silence as
the submarines surrendered and as
the crews were transferred. So ended
an historic event and the first pOr-
ton Of the German submarine fleet IS
now in the hands OF the British
navy