The sun., 1918-11-23
FLEETS SURRENDER
MIGHTY SPECTACLE
Graphic Picture of Germany's
Lost Navy Passing Into
Allied Captivity.
MILES OF SHIPS ON VIEW
VictOrs Ready for Treachery,
but Ceremony Goes On
Without a Hitch.

SPECIAL Cable Despdtch TO The Sun from the
london Times Service
Copyright. 1918; all rights reserred
on BOARD II. NJ. s. QUEEN ELrzAnErH,
Nov. 22.-The sun went down yesterday
on the most wonderful day in all the
long history of tho war at sea. A great
navy. once proud In its young strength
and high imperial missions surrendered
into an isnominious captivity more than
three score Of Its biggest and best ships
The finest vessels OF the German feet.
fashioned at heavy cost Of taxes and
debt, alike the symbol and the engine of
Germany's world ambitions surrendered
themselves as hostages to the Allies.
AS l write the captive ships lie but a
few miles away in British waters, fast
bound in misery and iron. 1t is the
tragic semblance of a navy which lost
its soul.
History tells of many good ships which
struck their flags under the stress OF
battle of ships which went deflantly TO
destruction rather than surrender: per
haps. even. of a group OF ships surren-
dering without striking a blow, but the
annals OF naval warfare hold no parallel
OF the memorable event It was my privi-
lege TO witness.
1t was the passing of a whole feet
that marked the final lgnobie abandon
ment Of the vainglorious challenge to
the naval supremacy of Britain.
watched the scene from the flagship Of
the British commander in chief. Never
has pageant 20 majestically demon
strated the might of Britain's navy.
Australia, Canada, South Africa and
New Zealand had places in the spec
tacle. American and French warships
were there, but above all this It was the
day of the British navy's supreme re-
ward for unceaslng vigilance and I'M
relenting. nolseless pressure % he vitals
OF Germany.
For two or three days the grand fleet
had hrea;hed quickening and electro
fed air. Since the night OF the armis-
tice. when flag officers sang and danced
on the forecastle deck with seaman and
marine, every ship attached to the
fleet from the flagship to the fussiest
motor launch was full or joyousness, re-
strained in expression. but real and
irrepressible.
In the Queen Elizabeth anticipat ton
OF the surrender FOR days has increased
almost hour by hour as messages flashed
hundred OF miles through the air from
the German high sea comTand,
Climax Is Eagerly Awaited.
Coming from Koenigsberg the historic
meeting between Admirals Beatty and
Meurer were fresh in each mind when l
came on board two days ago. In the
moonlight that evening three merry off,
GERS reconstructed the scene on the
quarterback for me with mock soiemnity.
Later the expectation OF the unbeliev-
able climax drove all other thoughts
from my mind. As the time went by
scraps Of news passed from mouth TO
mouth and the atmosphere Of eagernoss
grew ever more intense. but II was still
a controlled emotion. Naval men pre-
tend to be as Unconditional as jellyash,
hut OF course they are not.
Early In the afternoon two notices
were posted, the words OF which deserve
to be put on record. One follows:
Let It be impressed on all, officers
and men that a state OF war exists
during the arInistice. Their relations
with officers and men OF the German
navy with whom they may now be
brought in contact are to be strictly
of a formal character. In dealing with
the late enesly. while courtesy Is obliga-
lOTN, the NnetNOuS ny Wnlcn they WaReO
war mus not be forgotten. No inter
national compliments are 10 he paid and
all conversation is forbidden except in
regard to the immediate business to be
transacted. II II should be necessary
TO provide food for the German officers
and men they should Lot be enter
tanned. but II should he served to them
in a place specially set apart II It
should be necessary to accept food from
the Germans the request is TO be made
that 1t be similarly served"
These injunctions against anything
that might even appear to be fraterni-
zation with the enemy are thoroughly in
keeping with the attitude OF mind of
both officers and men toward the Ger
mans. In ordinary circumstances nobody
is more magnanimous to a beaten foe
that the British naval officer or seaman
but / have not yet met In these three
days a single man. whether in high posi-
ton OF the humblest rank. who showed
the least compassion, The present enc
my and his fleet are still Huns
Although most naval men admit the
German SUFFICE craft in the early days
of the war generally observed the laws
OF humanity, II is remembered that Ger
man officers saved from German ships
sunk at Helgoland Blight In August
1914. spat In the faces of their British
rescuerS Even II that and much else
should be forgotten. there remains the
inevitable shIlnking from intercourse
with any man who sailed under the
pirate flag OF the Imperial German Navy.
British Ready for Action.
A second notice bears the signature
OF Godfrey Blake. commander of the
Queen Elizabeth. This notice set out
the time tabl eand routine OF sailing, and
here came this significant reminder ::
Immediate readiness for action is to be
assumed"
Definite instructions were given re-
gardlng positions at training turrets and
guns. ut IL hoped" the notice said
that arrangements may be made to