Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-06-27
d&s ans atScapa Flow Raised
Flags on kaiSer'S Birthday
But Quickly Struck Them
At Orders of British.
BRITAIN EXCITED
BUT ADMIRE SPIRIT
Public For First Time Finds
Out That Boats Were Not
Surrendered But Simply In
termed in England,
BY Staff Correspondent.
Copyright, 1919. by he Press Publish
ing Co.

ing co,
CThe New York World.)
Especial Gable Dispatch.)
(By arrangement with the London
Daily News)
Edinburgh, June 26.--I have been
BILE to get the following account of the
scuttling of the German warships, des-
pite the refusal OF the naval authori-
ties to give the particulars. First of
the ships was seen t. be sinking at
about noon. A few minutes later it
turned turtle and disappeared from
view. Others went down one after an
other at a fairly rapid rate.
Before the warships sank the Ger
man ensign was hoisted Practically
the whole fleet was sunk, the Baden
being the only battleship remaining
afloat. The German officers and men
aboard had apparently decided that,
peace or no peace. their belaureled
young fleet should not become the
property of the allies and a dramatic
advantage was taken of the favorable
opportunity on the eve Of peace to
carry out their design.
British Grand Fleet Absent.
The leading British ships OF what
was until recently known as the
grand fleet had been during the last
week in the Firth of Forth, resuming
once more war footing against the
possibility of peace not being signed.
They were due to leave for Scapa Inn
mediately the treaty was agreed to
formally to take possession of the
surrendered vessels.
The German ships had been stripped
OF all their warlike equipment, and
there seemed to be no question OF
their being blown up. What was done
was simply to open the sea cocks An
eyewitness describes the sinking of a
battle cruiser, believed to be the Hin
denburg, about $3.50. The great ves-
sci sank slowly by the stern, and after
she had settled down, only a portion
of her mast remained above the wa
ter. A British destroyer took in tow
another vessel, but 1t was a hopeless
effort to keep her afloat. She was
therefore cast adrift, and a shot fired
from the destroyer sent her on her
last voyage. Another cruiser made a
sudden disappearance, and half an
hour later the Emden, cruiser
named after the famous raider, shared
the fate of the other vessels, despite
a great effort by a tug to beach her.
Explosion Follows Sinkings.
y Il
explosion occurred off Houten at the
spot where one e the German war
ships was sunk Saturday afternoon.
An eyewitness states that the explo-
sion threw up pillar OF water and
large quantity of debris several hun
dred feet The single battleship which
remained at anchor Saturday night
was run aground in Wanbister bay
beside two light cruisers beached
there. II } enemy ships which are not
completely under water are all flying
the British ensign. German prisoners
are now on board the Royal Sovereign.
A dispatch from Aberdeen says that
the hosting of the German flag on
vessel and the crews departure in
boats were the first signs to the Brit
ish Guardships, that something unus-
ual was happening. The signal was
given to other vessels in the distance
and soon British cruisers and de-
stroyers were racing toward the sink
ing ships. Some of the German vessels
seemed to sink on an even keel, while
others sank stern first, and the last a
dreadnaught, turned turtle about half
past four.
The time for salvage work was thus
very brief Crews of British guard
ships assisted by local tugs, made
strenuous efforts to beach the sinking
vessels and round up the crews. The
work was difficult and dangerous.
however, the outline of the warships
was evidently carried out with char
acterstic German thoroughness.
Navy men familiar with Scapa Flow
differ as to the precise effect of the
scuttling of the ships. II they sank
in moderately deep water they may
do little harm. If. on the other hand,
they have gone down in shallower
parts of the Flow they may be
serious danger to navigation and a
menace to British warships.
Wanted Airmen to Save Them.
There is story in circulation to the
effect that the German admiral be-
spoke the help of British air forces to
save the crews. AS the admiralty state
ment shows, apparently most of the
crews were rescued
and taken aboard British vessels.
Some of them were landed at Houton
pier and made prisoners on the I'M
pereuse. The German admiral also
was placed in custody. Certain men
of the Emden may have been drowned
for one eyewitness who saw them
jump overheard was unable to trace
them subsequently. He saw only one
man reappear. and he was holding to
a buoy.
Most of the vessels are entirely sub
One was taken to Hram-
blister, but sank on her arrival there.
The last vessel TO so down was a
which sank some four or