The sun., 1918-11-23

IlE DUN, DA i OhDA
allow all hands to see the German
ships"
II was generally known that under
the terms of the armistice the German
ships were unarmed and manned only
py navigating crews. but the navy did
not believe In taking chances. Treach-
cry was not expected but all was ready
to blow the German ships out OF the
water should any trick be attempted.
On the preceding night the Grand Fleet
lay at its mornings In the Firth OF Forth.
Above the bridge were the battleships.
destroyers and submarines. Conspicuous
among them was the French armored
cruiser Admiral Aube. flying the flag OF
Rear Admiral Grassel, which with two
destroyers represented the French navy
In the final act of the gre drama.
Below the bridge were batt.eships. bat
tie cruisers and light cruisers.
Again prominent place was taken by
the ships of partner nation in the
struggle. The New York. flagship OF Ad-
miral Rodman. with Admiral Sims and
his stan aboard, and the Florida. Wyo-
ming and Arkansas.
Canada was above the bridge with the
first battle squadron and Australia. New
zealand was below with the second bat
tie cruiser squadron. Throughout the
night the flagship was In touch by wire
less with the German feet, noting its
progress to the place OF rendezvous.
At clock in the morning the feet
was reported seventy miles out The
German ENJOYS who came from Konigs-
berg stated their feet would be unable
to steam more than twelve knots an
hour. and that that would be speed
NH Tor -,
before 4 O'Clock the first battle squa dron
led by the Revenge. the flagship Of
Vice-Admiral Madden, began TO move
The fog had lifted after Ave days and
the lower air was clear. Clouds hid the
moon and stars and made the night
dark.
Great Fleet Sails in Darkness.
Silently in the darkness ship followed
ship down TO the open sea, an ominous
and awe Inspiring procession. the black
shapes OF each indistinctly silhpuetted
against a sky cRnopied by smudge of
smoke. The Queen Elizabeth took ner
place at the rear end OF the line. At
daybreak the grand fleet was at sea
and In the gray morning mist the
squadrons took their position in two
columns. each a single line.
According to the programme the first
light cruiser squa dron was due to meet
the German fleet at ten minutes after
3 o'clock. but the position of greatest
honor was to be filled by the CardifY
OF the sixth light cruiser squadron. for
she was to direct the movement OF the
German main force and order them 10
proceed II possible at "A speed OF twelve
knots.
About O'Clock the sun shone dimly
through a rift In slate gray clouds. Here
and there in the sky lead gray melted
into light shades Of blue and brick red
but haze still hung over the water
and confined the vision 20 Ave or six
miles
The two lines moved toward the on
coming enemy. Half past came, and
with II report that the German fleet
had been sighted BY our destroyers
An hour passed and the rising sun be-
gan to tinge the sky with gold Pres
ertly, four or five miles away on the
starboard bow. there came into view a
sausage balloon towed by the Cardiff
First there was a mere faint speck of
gray mist with slight smoke trail
stretching out below It. Then behind the
Cardiff there emerged from the murk the
first Of the German ships
AT the three miles range they ap-
peared to be- little more than slowly NOV
ing silhouettes coming abreast. The
British fleet turned by squadrons sixteen
points outward. wheeling back on its own
track and retaining positions on both
sides OF the Germans to escort them to
the anchorage.
Between the lines came the Germans.
led by the Cardiff and looking Ike a
school OF leviathsns led by a minnow
over them flew a British naval airship.
uNk-EA
by the Seydlitz. n ship which carries
the scars OF the Dogger Bank battle
of January, 1915 The Moltke and
Hindeuburg followed and then the Der
finger. which also was badly battered
in the Dogger Bank engagement, and
finally the Won der Taan which ac-
cording to report suffered heavily in
the naval air raid az Cuxhaven.
Germans Completely EncircIed.
The other heavy ships OF the Grand
Fleet had left the flagship well behind
when the German and British destroyers
came out of the mist In ordered array
hotilla after fiotilla moved across the
sea, the Germans completely encased by
the British. So vast was the area they
covered that both the head and rear OF
the columns stretched away into the
maze ana were lNSt 10 SlRht. Inc eye
could not count them They were them
selves a tremendous armada.
All this time the great captive feet.
guarded by the fleet which encircled It.
was moving slowly at an almost funeral
pace, certainly not the twelve knots
stipulated by Admiral Meurer, toward
tho anchorage appointed for the Germans
of May Island. a rocky island which
stands in the middle OF the Firth OF
Forth and some miles to the eastward
of the Bridge. Presently. as the German
ships came to rest. It was seen that on
every side OF them were their British
warders. Then the main body OF the
Grand Fleet made its way back to the
stations from which II had started early
in the morning.
A description OF the surrender will not
convey TO the mind any conception OF
the scene. but II must be placed on per-
manent record, for II indicates the dispo-
stion OF hostile fleets such as never had
been seen before and will in all llkeli-
hood never be seen again.
Operations were perfect both In or
ganization and execution. From purely
spectacular point OF view the pageant
was robbed OF some OF its splendor by