Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-12-28

uaTkeneu lFpm SunSeJ I'd SunrrSC D
precaution against air and other attacks
In winter this meant from Is to Is hours
per day. This, in all but An arctic climate,
was one of our many hardships. But
there was no complaint. On the other
hand, everyone seemed happy and con-
tented and all eager to go to sea every
time the occasion demanded in the hopes
that we would meet the Hun fleet and
engage it.
"And let me add that with all Of the
demands which have been placed upon
| the ships of this division, in spite of this
constant readiness for action, their
maintenance, upkeep and efficiency under
war conditions, with no general overhaul
or repairs have been maintained at such
| high degree that it is no cxaggcration
| To say that were they called upon to do
so they could steam around the world
rs they are now and still be ready TO go
into action.
TO give an idea of the immense size
and number of vessels employed in the
Grand Fleet, it might be of interest here
to state that entering or leaving port
our column Of ships, excluding destroyers,
was on an average about sixty-five miles
long: on one occasion, seventy-six miles.
Its length was dependent upon weather
| and other conditions, us well rs upon the
number of ships,
IGNOMINIOUS SURREND AT EACH
And so after four years of war for the
! Grand Fleet, and after we had been n
part of it for the last year, there came the
debacle, the last scene of the great drama.
| Not as we had all expected, rs the success
full termination of n great sea battle, but
rs an SYNONYMOUS surrender without
| firing n gun.
Surely no more complete victory
Was ever won, nor a more dlsgraceful and
| humiliating end could have come TO
powerful and much vaunted fleet rs that
which came to the German High Sess
| fleet Let me try to describe it to you.
"The Commander in Chief of the Grand
| Fleet demanded and received what actual
| ly amounted to an unconditional surrender
OF the whole Germ IN navy. Under hIs
| orders, the enemy's ships were drsarmed,
ammunition landed, torpedo war heads
sent ashore, breach blocks and FIRE control
instruments removed and every offensive
utility rendered innooious.
Then with reduced crews, under the
command of German Admiral in one
long column, the heavy battieships leading
the Hun feet sailed for dcsignat et
rendezvous. to arrive at . specified time,
just outside of the Firth of Forth in Scot
land. where the Grand Fleet lay at anchor.
Before daylight the Frand Fleet was
underway and proceeded To sea, heading
east in two long columns, SIN miles apart,
our American bsttleship force Icing IN
the middle of the northern line A light
British cruiser was directed to meet the
Germans, who were heading west, and
conduct them in between our two columns.
Here let me diverge for moment
and recall to the minds Of any Of YOU
who have been in China or the Phil
ippineS the viciousncSs and antlpat ny
which the domeStlCated carlhoa has
for white man How ready they are
To attack while any native child can,
with perfect safety and impunity 20
up TO the most savage Of them. take
them bv the nose and lead them where
he pleases.
And so | was reminded OF this when
little British cruiser rounded-tO ahead
Of the much vaunted German High Seas
Fleet, and hoisted the signal. Follow me,
and led them, down between our columns,
where our battle flags were mast headed,
turrets trained toward the enemy. crews
al battle stations, and all IN readiness
for any act of trcachery that might tie
attempted
''At a prearranged signal our forces
swung symnetrically through $50 de-
grees, and, still parallcling the enveloped
Germans, conducted them into des-
signated anchorage IN the entrance of the
Fifth of Forth. Then came slgnal from
the Commander In Chief to the surrendered
feet At sundown lower your colors and
do not hoist them again without per-
mission Surely no greater humiliation
could hsve befailen them after their fire.
qtscnt and taunting boasts and threats.
There rs little else to be told after.
an inspection by British and American
officers TO gain assurance that the ships
were disarmed they were sent IN groups,
under guard, TO Scapa Flow, In the cold,
drcary, bleak, God4forsaken harbor, in
the Orkneys, where the Grand Fleet had
spent many dreary month and year. wait
ing like ferocious dogs in leash, watching
and waiting, to pounce on the German
feet should the opportunity ever occur
Here the Germans now lie at anchor,
IN long lines, helpless, innocuous, harmless,
their sting and bite removed, their
national colors lowered for good and all as
a token of submission 10 their masters.
Corralled like wild and cruel beasts that
have been hobbled and emasculated,
guarded bv single division of battle
ships.
flOur MISSION has been successfully
accomplished; the German feet is
thing of the past; the seas are safe and
free TO our own and our Allies ships.
The value of sea power could have no
better demonstration.