The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1918-12-20
SINKING THE
GERMAN SHIPS
To Be OPPOSED
LODGE In REQUEST ::
FOR INFORMATION
Asks by What Authority U. 5.
Peace Commissioners
Reach Decision.

WASHINGTON. Dec. 1s.-Press dis
patches from Paris. saying that the Am
crican peace delegates. with British sup
port will urge the sinking OF the sur
rendered German warship as the SOLUTION
Of the problem OF their disposition, LED
to initiation of steps today, in the SEN
ate to obtain an official statement OF
tho facts and to wide discussion IN
naval circles.
At the state and navy departments no
information was available, Secretary
Daniels repeating his. previous state
mcnt. that he had never heard the sus-
gcstion officially, while at the state oe-
partment, IL wns said that so Tar n"
known there NO such project was incluo-
cd in tho American peace program.
There were many indica tions today
that a proposal to sink the ships would
meet strong opposition in congress. Inc
Paris dispatch prompted Senator Lodge
TO introduce today resolution callnS
ON the stnte department for information
rs To whether. the American delcs3lcs
are advocating destruction OF the enemy
shins and il so by what authority. Thc
resolution was left on the table without
discussion and he announced today nc
would deliver in the senate SATURDAY.
Reports from Paris that the american
delegation would favor sinking the Ger
man ships led Senator Loose u Hi'i"
duce the resolution.
Secretary Daniels said today he had
ncver heard officially of such pro-
posal. Naval officers here generally ap-
narcntlv do not regard the plan with
much favor.
while the impression has been given
that the navy department proonply
would not look with favor upon seno'hB
the German ships to the bottom. some
officers pointed today to practical OBJ
strIIctions 10 absorption OF the surrcn-
drrcd vessels b. the allied and Ameri-
can navics. They said that owing 10 the
difference in design and equipment pc.
tween the capital craft OF the German
fleet and those Of any other navy power.
thc military value of the ships to tho
victors is far from as great as might
be thought. The German ships were
built. il WIS explained, on the thco!ies
that differ fundamentally from BRITISH:
American, French or 1talian loeas u
naval construction.
onIv in the case Of the most modern
German drcadnaughtS or battle cruisers.
ono officer said would the extensive re-
construction necessary 70 maze .hct,, hn
mart OF homogeneous fighting fleets DO
As peace time element Of the nayicH
or the associated powers. some ofticer3
were inclined to think the chicf Falue
or the majority Of the SURRENDERED capl-
tai craft would be As trophies OF ;Sc.Tic-
tory, TO be pointed to AZ an object lesson
TO any other power that might become
swelled with ambition Tor world CON-
It was recalled. however, that some OF
the Spanish ships sum- by the American
flret nj Santiago in 1895. were raised
and used by the American navy and that
also Jap1n made similar use, use OF rsi,ilsnr Mssia
ships captured in 1904 atter feoulioins
At the outbreak Of the world war.
Great Britain commandecrcd a numoe!
Of warships building in England ana
Scotland for Turkey and other torclsn
countries. including some South AmcTl-
ran REPUBLICS. and these were actively
engaged with the grand fleet during the
war.