The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1918-11-22

Edinburgh, Thursday, p.n., NOV
2i.-(A. P)-Germany as a nava
power ceased to exist today. 'rh'
heart of her mighty fleet-fourteei
ships of the line, seven light cruisers
and fifty royers-surrendered t.
an armada of British. American ant
French vessels, the greatest fighting
force that ever stood out to sea.
The minutely detailed program o
submission laid down by the COM
mander Of the British fleet was car.
ried out strictly according TO plan
The German warships, strung out ir
a single column'almost twenty miles
long. appeared at the rendezvous al
the appointed time and were led into
the Firth of Forth between twin
Tapped the Germans at each end
Tonight the enemy craft are
anchored in the Firth under guard
as prisoners. N
\ surrender on sucn gigantic
scale has no precedent in naval his
tory. Although the wonderful naval
spectacle was the same as n peace
time review and evoked little
enthusiasm, American and British
officers could scarcely credit the
evidence of their eyes. 1t was an
event which shattered all naval ira
ditions and ideals.
Pity for Fallen Sea Giant.
Men animated by the spirit of
Lawrencc's Don't give up the ship"
and Nelson's England expects ev-
cry man to do his duty" could not
conceive of such an inglorious fate
as that to which the great enemy
etttf Air0 q
sociated Press correspondent stand
ing on the deck of an American
dreadnought heard an officer ex-
claim: "Even the poor old Spani-
ards. knowing they hadn't chance,
came out of Santiago" But for the
most part both officers and men were
silent. They realized they were wit
Messing the climacteric act of Ger
many's downfall. They knew the
surrender OF these. vessels automa-
ticaliy raised the United Statep to
second position among the worlds
naval powers but they showed no
clation and seemed to feel q sort
OF eontnmptuous pity for the fallen
giant of the sea who had refused to
fight, Their inaginations dweit on
the foes shame.
Instant AnnihiIation.
The German ships were sighted by
the allied columns at 9:20 o'clock
docilely following their British pilot,
the Ugh. cruiser Cardiff, which, with
destroycrs and other small crafts,
had ranged ahead of the allied fleet.
The enemy studiously complied with
Admiral Beatty's orders, and it was
we'll for their own salSes that they
did. Every vessel steaming out to
meet them flew battle ensighs and
was ready for instant action with its
men at battle stations and guns In
position for the prompt annihilation
OF the cncmy's forces If their mis-
sion proved to be other than peace
full.
Five American battleships, the New
York, Texas, Arkansas, Wyoming
and Florida, were prepared to fire
every gun in forty seconds after the
signal was given by Rear Admiral
Hugh I,odman. who said to the cor
respondent before sailing:
'There is not the slightest pos
sibility of any trouble, but we are
overlooking no chances against maxi
ing the. wind-up of this show big
success.
Line Fourteen Miles Long.
The main allied fleet extending
over a line fourteen miles long in
the Firth of Forth began to weigh
anchor at 1 o'clock this morning.
The Scotch mist, which for days
had obscured the harbor, was swept
away by a stiff breeze and the moon
shone brilliantly out of u clear sky.
The ships quickly took their sta
tions In the long double-line they
held throughout the day. The Brit
ish battle cruisers led the way, fol-
lowed by dreadnoughts. Admiral
Beatty's flagship, the Queen Eliza
beth, led the squadron in the north
ern column.
The American ships fell into line |
behind Admiral Beatty's craft. bal
ancing a British squadron similar In |
power in the opposite file. Tho |
rendezvous was apparently fifty |
miles distant and the ships gauged
their speed to arrive at the ap- !,
pointed place at o'clock. At
o'clock q signal summoned the men |
into battle stations, and except for
the Officers on the bridges tine snips'
companies were hidden behind bull |
the sea was again covered with mist
WIuSu AcuuCcu tuS NAniSAASy W. iCo0
than 5000 yards.
Eyes Strained Through Haze.
Eyes straining through the murlSy
haze finally were rewarded. on the
bow the Cardiff, trailing an
kite balloon. came steam
ing In. Close behind her came the
first of the German ships, the great
battle cruiser Seydlitz, which was
flying the flag OF Commodore Tagert.
After her came four others of the
same type. the Derfflinger, Won Der
Tam, Hindenburg and Moltke. They
moved along three cable lengths
apart. Immediately following them
were nine .dreadnoughts, the Freid-
rich der. Crosse, flagship Of Rear
Won Reuter-; the Koenig
Albert, Kaiser, Kronprinz Wilselm,
Kaiserin. Bayern, Markgraf, Prinx-
regent Luitpold and the Grosser
Three miles astern Of the battle-
ships came seven light cruisers, the
Karlsruhe. bearing the ensign Of
Harder; the Frankfort.
Emden. Durnberg, Drummer, Coin
and Bremen. Nf
Then came another gap of three
miles and German .destroyers camc
yteaming In five columns abreast,
with ten destroyers to a column. SIX
niles separated the allied columns II
Ind sQuNrely between them the Car
iiff brought her charges all steam
NJ ot ~ stipulated speed Of ten
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