The sun., 1919-06-26
ARTIST GRIBBLE
SAW SHIPS SINK


vessels.
Az we we're turned toward me se''d-
| litz we saw her turn over, but she did
not sink altogether ana she WIS It
visible above the surface. We kept
! on signalling and using hooters in order
to get the other guard ships to come
around, and we had TO keep pass 9
over the surface where the vessels had
gone down. We passed several aban-
doned German stea pinnaces from dit.
| ferent battleshps. but there was on one
on board them and we -cor>cluded that
several Germans had been drowned as
, there were a number of lifebens noar-
| ing about.
| We then observed that the Emden
was in trouble and II. VI. 8. Shakespeare.
one of our destroyers, ran alongside
her to endeavor to take her in tow. We
then returned to the Ramsler and tr nv
ferred to her a number OF wounded
| Germ ms W ON "
German boats. Returning to the scene
We picked up a few n ore including
their baggage and put them on board
our flagship.
/ We next proceeded to the Emden and
at this time there was n great deal
Of confusion. Our vessel ran into the
we ultimately managed to beach her
noticed that Admiral Won Reuters
flagship was flying his nag, which Is
black cross resembling n maltese
cross on a white ground with two black
balls. When we got alongside the En-
den l peeped into her forecabin and
noticed It was gayly decorated with
fags and bunting, and there was a
distinct odor OF tobacco and spirits
h.
| an orgy the night before.
1t appears that the whole thing was
carefully arranged and timed to the
minute. One thing noticed was that
notwithstanding the thrilling and dan
gerous character OF the proceedings the
German officers were wearing yellow
kid gloves and smoking cigars. AL
though the Germans declared they had
no arms I have good reason to believe
that automatic pistols were round in the
possession Of most OF the officers.
While our rife fire was proceeding
there was a good deal OF cross-fre,
which lasted for. I should think. three
quarters Of an hour and 1t In impossible
to say whether the Germans actually
did use firearms, but possibly soma shots
came from the Germans. Their inten-
ton evidently was to keep out to sea
as long as they could, in order to give
their vessels time to- sink.
Trick Suspected.
Two days before l had a chat with
Admiral Freemantle, who said:
You will probably see some very in
teresting episodes because we do not
know what may happen. 1t seems pos
sible that the Germans may do some
thing"
0aiA
move the crews Off the vessels7" %.
Yes" replied Admiral Treemantle,
Il had thought Of that n,1anlf, but It
would have to be very carefully planned
and subtle move to manage 1t in time
because they may leave one or two men
slowed away to do the trick even IL we
were to put an armed escort on the
ships" ,-Fi
On Saturday evening had long
chat with different officers and they
all expressed great regret at not being
present from the beginning of the in
cident Admiral Won Reuter- and his
staff and the crews were placed on board
the Revenge for the night and arrange
ments were made totake them to Inver-
gordon on the following day.
/ think the most. Interesting and i'm
pressive part Of the whole proceedings
took place on Sunday afternoon on
board the Revenge, when Admiral Free
mantle had the whole of the German
officers and men paraded on the quarter
deck and addressed Admiral Won Reuter-
and his stan.
The Germans were lined UP under a
military escort Of marines with fixed
bayonets and Admiral Won Reuter- was
ordered to stand In front OF his stan.
Admiral Freemantle then delivered a
short address, which was translated by
Captain OF marines.
Admiral Freemantle, addressing the
German Admiral said: Before / send
you ashore as prisoner of war would
like to express to you my Indignation
at the deed which you have perpetrated
and which was that of a traitor, violat-
ing the arrangements entered into by
the Allies
The German fleet was in n sense more
interned than actually imprisoned. The
vessels were resting here as a sort of
pledge from the German Government
until peace had been signed 1t is not
the first occasion on which the Germans
have violated all decent laws and rules
Of the seas. We have had on many
occasions to regret the fact OF having
to fight nation which takes no notice
Of civilized laws on the high seas"
German Admiral Replies.
After this address Admiral Won Reuter-
made short speech in which he said:
I take entire responsibility for what
has been done, 1t was done at my
instigation, and I feel that l was per
fectly justified In doing 1t, and feel sure
that IN similar circumstances every Eng
fish sailor would have done the same"
The ceremony was tremendously i'm
pressive and appeared, TO touch all our
sailors who witnessed IT, The German
baggage and were then transferred to
a boat Admiral Freemantle ordered
Admiral Reuter- and his staff to be
taken on a launch to a place near In
vergordon. The other officers and men
were landed at Invergordon
One thing that had struck me about
the German sailors was that they APP
peared to be very poor specimens of the
German type and they seemed to be de-
void OF discipline. During the ceremony
OF the quarter deck they did not salute
nor stand at attention until ordered to
do so. The German officers. however,
were more healthy locking
Every thing possible was done for the
wounded men. l think one man died.
II was most surprising to observe how
swittly the vessels sank. Most of them
turned over to the starboard and then
disappeared. / don't think the dramatic
spectacle could have been witnessed very
clearly from the shore. There has been
mention OF the holsting OF Red flag,
but l don't think that is correct. saw
no red flag There were only the Ger
man admirars flag and signal pennants
! can quito understand that the Ger