Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1919-02-06
Shenberdsown Jefferson County, Thursday February 1919
Sinking the Fleet.

The daily papers have made some
quite readable copy Of late-ou Of tb'
rumors that to avoid jealousies ant
heartburnings among the allies, it wa:
urged that the surrenderd German fee
be conducted to the location Of some
mile-deep hole in the ocean, and be in
Quoted thereto as the safest means o.
avoiding disrupting disputes. 1t ma!
be very pretty piece OF sentimen
which would consign huge navy a
one swoop into honorable oblivion-i
savors somewhat Of the long-observtc
tradition, wherein honor demanded
perfectly capable and ,able-bodied car
tain to 60 down with his ship. Such
brave burial would be very pleasing
to the Huns, to whom the whole schem>
may be fairly credited. II they had tc
lose their navy, naturally they wou)c
"despise" to see their victors adding
it to their already large fleets.
The conduct Of the German navy
throughout the war has been one huge
joke. Its stage entrance had been sc
brilliantly worked up, the world was
prepared to witness something really
formidable. In the first few weeks
owing to advance information OF wheT
the fatherland would be called on to
defend itself against invasion, a few
German cruisers and armed merchant
men did make some havoc among un-
armed freighters. Twas a noble con-
quest, inasmuch as the first intination
the helpless victim had that var was
on, was when it found itself all shot up
and sinking. The English and French
saw to it that this performance didn't
last long. For two or three years the
Bernstorff grapevine brought at inter
vals the news that the German grand
feet was getting up steam to come Out
and annihilate everybody. But the
British were too many, and the one
time few German war craft stayed out
late at night, the alert Britannia lick
ed them so hard the escapade was
never repeated. Still the rumors were
kept up. 1t is doubtful il the British
had any real hopes Of naval combat
the last l8 months Of the war.
Never was there such complete
naval surrender since Noah abandoned
the worlds entire merchant marine.
Pompey lost lot of galleys and An
thony his feet, and the loss OF the
Spanish Armada was the sensation Of
the century, but never anything like the
surrender OF the German fleet. They
were so peeved over the outcome, the
surrendered vessels were turned ovel
in a shockingly dirty condition, than
which no greater crime is possible in
the eyes Of Jack Tar.
And now they would like to see a
grand sinking. OF course they would.
and OF course they won't. The allies
can be trusted for a perfectly salts
factory division; in fact. the truth is
probably none OF them would feel very
bad il the entire feet were to be turn
ed over to the British as trustee for
civilization, to maintain and administer
in the cause Of righteousness. The
other allies would still have the benefit
OF its protection without the cost OF its
upkeep.
The sinking OF the German feet is a
fairy tale like the Holy War, and the
Revolt in India, and few ether things
which are almost forgotten. The incl
dent has its value, however, in remind
ing US the Hun is still running true 10
form as the same sly, intriguing old
trouble maker as OF yore. &.
Disarmament, partial or by slow
process Of depreciation without replace
ment, may not be seriously considered
at the treaty making. II would be too
much a case OF dismissing the shepherd
before the wolves were toothless. The
allies, as comrades in arms. have found
and proved how successfully, and
agreeably, they can work together. II
henceforth, diplomacy by this combina'
ton Of powers, can only be conducted
in the open and with the joint knowl'
edge and advice Of each OF the others
no other combination can stand against
them.