The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-06-23
GERMAN SAILORS
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oording to the Mall, it was evident the
sea valves had been opened and in
surprisingly short time the vessels,
big and small, began to settle down,
Every effort was made by the British
naval craft to beach the sinking ships
and in the case of destroyers consider
able success was achieved. BY 1
o'clock in the afternoon. however,
what an hour before had been a state
ly fleet riding calmly at anchor, was
an array of Keeling, rocking battle
ships, the doom OF which was written
in their, movements.
A Wonderful Spectacle.
Here a destroyer would disappear
amid a cloud of steam and there a
battleship would take her last plunge
and disappear in a cloud of spray.
One would settle down by the stern
and another would heel over until
The Derfflinger, Hindenburg, Won Der
Tam, Moltke and Seydlitz settled
down beside each other. the last
named turning turtle as she filled with
water. Her keel is still showing
where she capsized. The waters of
boats full of men who had with dra-
matte suddenness settled the question
of disposition of the informed ships.
The first boatload was lowed along
side of H. NJ. s. Victorious by drifter,
a German officer in the boat ordered
with three vigorous 'Hochs," Craft
| Of every description followed fast to
the side of the warship, each towing
! boatloads of Germans who were taken
on board the Victorious. the decks of
which soon became crowded with men
and bundles. A German officer who
came aboard wore a sword and seemed
| to wish to make an impressive cere-
mony by handing it over TO an officer
who had been in command of a divi-
sion of interned destroyers.
I'VE Aren't BolsheviIxi."
I'VE are not Bolsheviki." he said.
! Peace was signed today We had our
orders and have carried them out"
The Germans were not aware that
the armistice had been extended until
| Monday and there was an almost con-
| tinuous heel clicking and saluting as
| the officers of various ships greeted
each other on coming aboard. That
the Germans were ready for the event
was apparent from the amount and
variety OF the gear they had with
them, some seamen staggering under
| the weight of bundles bigger than
themselves, the salvage representing
everything from banjoes to pet dogs.
Both the officers and men seemed
very anxious that none of their ships
| should be saved.
| One officer who wore the iron
cross, pointed to the sinking ships and
| said
Hauled Down Hun Flags.
"See how the German navy goes
down with its flags flying" Such.
however. was not the case, as British
sailors had boarded most of the Ger
man ships and had hauled down the
flags before the vessels went under.
The prospect of saivaging a few
/ ahina q fairly hnnaf1I tho Mail saws
None has gone down in really deep
water. The Bleaching of the sinking
ships proved difficult and at times a
| dangerous matter. One destroyer sank
| as it was being lowed ashore. British
sailors on board had scarcely time to
jump clear before the craft went
down. About twenty destroyers out
of the fifty that were interned were
beached during the afternoon. The
German crews which were taken tc
the Victorious were later transferred
to ether warships.
What was crowded anchorage
this morning" wired a Mail CORE.
spondent late Saturday. "is a desolatt
expanse of water tonight with hers
and there the masts of a sunken Ger,
man ship marking the last resins
place of once proud and might.
high seas fleet"
Allies Send a Note.
London, June ga news agenc,
dispatch from Berlin today reported
an allied note was. handed the Ger
man government yesterday regarding
sinking of the German fleet in Scaps
Flow.
Many Huns at Large.
Thurso, Scotland, June 23.-Many
of the German sailors who escaped
after sinking practically the entire in
termed German fleet Saturday il
Scapa Flow were reported today to b,
still at liberty. British marines anC
soldiers were searching the Orkne.
Islands for them.