New Britain herald., 1918-12-27

action, their maintenance, upkeep
, and efficiency under war conditions
/ with no general overhaul or repairs
have been maintained at such a high
degree that it is no exaggeratio1 to
/ say that, were they called upon to do
so, they could steam around the
world they are now, and still be
ready to go into action.
ITO give an idea of the imm ense
size and number of vessels employed
il the Grand fleet, it might be of in
terest here to state that, entering or
leaving port, our column of ships, ex-
Guiding destroyers. was on an average
about 65 miles long; on one occasion,
IS miles. Its length was dependent
upon weather and other conditions,
as we'll as upon the number of ships.
Describes the DebacIc.
After four years of war for the
Grand fleet, and after we had been Il
part of it for the last year. there
came the debacle. the last scene of
the great drama Not as we had all
expected, as the successful termina-
ton of n great sea battle, but as an
ignominious surrender without firing
a gun. Surely no more complete vic
tory was ever won, nor a more dis
graceful and humi1iating end could
have come to powerful and much
vaunted fleet as that which came to
the German high seas fleet Let me
try to describe 1t.
THE commander in chief of tho
Grand fleet demanded and received
what actually amounted to an ulcon-
ditional surrender of the whole Ger
man navy. Under his orders the en-
emy's ships were disarmed, ammuni-
ton landed, torpedo warheads sent
ashore, breechblocks and fire-control
instruments removed, and every Of
fensive utility rendered innocuous.
Then, with reduced crews, under the
command Of German admiral, In
one long column, the heavy battle
ships leading, the Hun fleet sailed for
a specified time, just outside the
Firth Of Forth in Scotland, where the
Grand feet lay at anchor.
Before daylight the Grand fleet
was under way and proceeded to sea,
heading east in two long columns,
six miles apart, our American bat
tleship force being in the middle Of
the northern line. A light British
cruiser was directed to meet the Ger
mans, who were heading west, and
conduct them in between our two
columns.
Let me diverge for a moment and
recall to anyone who has been In
China or the Philippines the vicious
ness of and antipathY which the do
nlesticated carabao has for white
man. How ready they are to attack,
while any native child can, with per-
feet safety and impunity, go up to the
m ost savage of them, take him by the
nose, and lead him where he pleases.
I was reminded OF this when a 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 at battle stations,
and all In readiness for any act of
treachery that might be attempted.
"At a, prearraaged signal our forces
swung symmetrically through $50
degrees, and, still paralleling the en-
veloped Germans, conducted them
into a designated anchorage in the
entrance OF the Firth of Forth. Then
came a signal to the commander In
chief to the surrendered fleet: AT
shutdown lower your coIors and do
not hoist them again without permits
sion Surely no greater humiliation
could have befaIIen them after their
frequent and haunting boasts and
threats.
Helpless, Innocuous, Harmless"
There Is little else to be told. Aft
err an inspection by British and Amer
lean officers to gain assurance that
tho ships were disar1ned, they were
sent in groups. under guard, to Scapa
Flow in the cold dreary bleak Cod
forsaIsen harbor IN the Orkneys where
the Grand Fleet had spent many
dreary month and year, waiting like
ferocious dogs in leash, watching and
waiting, to pounce on the German
feet should the opportunity ever oc-
cur. Here the Germans now lie at
anchor in long symmetrical lines,
helpless, innocuous, harmless; their
sting and bite removed, their national
colors lowered for good and all as a
token OF submission to their masters.
They are corralled Hike wild and cruel
beasts that have been hobbIed, guard
ed by single division of battleships.
"Our mission has been successfully
accomplished; the German fleet is q
thing OF the past; the seas are safe
and free to our own and our Allies
ships. The value of sea pwer could
have no better demonstration.
After a year Of strenuous and ar
duous duty, but duty which was most
eagerly and gladly performed, our
ships have reached horne across the
ocean; not darkened and zigza ggins
to avoid danger from hostile forces,
but with n blaze Of lights turned on,
and feeling of perfect security and
confidence, with hearts full Of happi-
neSs and contentment that we are