Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1918-11-27
TWENTY U-BOATS
SURRENDERED To
THE BRITISH FLEET.
Hun Submarines Handed Over to
the Allies.
SURFACE VESSELS DUE TODAY
Undersea Craft Berthed in Harwich
Harbor-other Ships of kaisePs
Fleet Will Be Yielded Up as
Fast as Possible.

London. Nov. 21-Twenty German
submarines are berthed in the harbor
of Harwich. They were the first unit
TO surrender in compliance with the
armistice treaty They surrendered on
the high seas and were escorted into
port by British naval vessels.
Twenty other submarines Will be
surrendered today and 20 more on Fri
day. The remainder of the U-boats
to be handed over in accordance with
the armistice terms will be given up
later.
Seventy-fOur German surface war
ships are ON their way to surrender.
They will give up to British, French
and American warships in the North
sea, according to the present plans.
How Submarines Gave Up.
The following account of the sur
render of the first batch of % German
submarines, which was accomplished
at sea, is given by an eyewitness of
the incident:
After the squadron, on which was
the correspondent, had steamed some
twenty miles across the North sea, the
Harwich forces, which consisted of
five light cruisers and twenty destroy
ers, were sighted. The flagship Of Adj
miral Tyrwhitt, the commander, was
the Curacao. High above the squad
ron hung a big observation balloon.
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 navi-
cation lights showing. The picture
was a noble one, as the great vessels,
with the moon still shining, plowed
their way to take part in the surren-
der of the German U-boats.
Guard Against Mines.
Soon after the British squadron
started the ''paravaneS" were dropped
overheard. These devices are shaped
like tops and divert any mines which
may be encountered, for the vessels
were now entering a mine field.
Almost everyone on board donned a
lifebelt, and just as the red sun ap-
peared above the horizon the first Ger
man submarine appeared in sight.
Soon after seven o'clock 20 subma-
rines were seen in line, accompanied
by two German destrOyers, the Tiba-
MIA and the Sierra Ventana, which
were to take the submarine crews
back to Germany after the transfer.
Watch to Prevent Treachery.
All the submarines were on the sur
face with their matches open and their
crews standing on deck. The vessels
were flying no flags and their guns
were trained fore and aft, in accord
ance with the terms of surrender.
bugle sounded on the Curacao and
all the gun crews took up their sta
ions, ready for any possible treachery.
The leading destroyer, in response
to a signal from the admiral, turned
and led the way towards England, and
the submarines were ordered to follow.
They Immediately did so. The sur
render HAD been accomplished.
One U-Boat Huge Craft.
Each cruiser turned and, keeping a
careful lookout, steamed toward Har-
witch. On one of the largest of the
submarines, which carried two 50
guns, % officers and men were count
ed on deck. The craft was estimated
to be nearly 800 feet in length. Its
number had been painted out.
Near the Ship Wash lightship three
large British seaplanes. followed by an
airShip, were observed. The Harwich
forces and the seaplanes and airship
made a most impressive sight.
One of the submarines was seen to
send up couple of carrier pigeons and
at once a signal was flashed from the
admiral that 1t had no right to do
this.
When the ships had cleared the
mine field and entered the war chan
mel the ''paravanes" were hauled
aboard. On reaching point some 20
miles off Harwich the ships dropped
anchor and Captain Addison came out
on the warship Maidstone. British
crews were then put on board the sub
marines.