Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-06-23
HUN CREWS SINK
SHIPS |NTERNED
At GERMAN PORTS
Vessels Which Had Not Been
Turned Over to Allies
Sent to Bottom.
CLAIMED THE ARMISTICE
PERIOD HAD BEEN ENDED
Berlin Press, While Applauding.
Says Germany Is Not in Posi-
ton for Heroic Poses.


WEIMAR. Sunday, June - Thy the
Associated Press).-The German war
ships which We're not surrendered 10
the allies and which have been an
chored off Kiel, Wilhelmshaven and
other points have been sunk by Ger
man sailors manning them. according
to a report received here from a re-
liable authority.
According to the reports there were
twelve German war vessels, besides
waters. not having been turned over
to the entente under the armistice
provisions.
Public Apparently Indifferent.
BERLIN, Sunday, June % Thy the
Associated Press).-Bulletins an
nouncing that the German fleet had
been sunk in Scapa Flow arrived too
late for the morning editions of Ber-
lin papers today, and the people were
given their first information through
noon editions. In a more suspicious
political situation, the news might
have caused an outburst of enthusi-
asm, but the public was not moved
to demonstration. The admiralty has
received nothing beyond a brief bull
letin. which came by way of Holland.
Commenting upon the sinking of the
feet. the Berlin Gazette says that il
was perhaps a deed of folly, as Ger
many might have been able to force
an indemnity for the surrender of the
warships.
-Nsvertheless." it continues. "it was
a handsome deed
Not in Position for Heroic Poses.
The Neue Gazette says:
1.-The officers and men who per-
formed this deed may be forgiven.
They acted in the spirit in which
they were trained. On the other
hand. il their action carries with II
injurious results for Germany IL must
be regretted. for Germany is hardly
in a position to indulge in the luxury
Of heroic poses. and the brief salts
faction of appearing before the world
in this Bengal illumination may have
to be paid for in cash"
Loss of Life Reported.
LONDON, June 23.-Although reports
have stated that six Germans were
killed and ten wounded when the
boats of the German fleet in Scapa
Flow were fired upon subsequent TO
the scuttling of the feet, the Daily
Mail says that others may have been
drowned and that some may possibly
have reached the Orkney Islands and
have not as yet been reported.
The main force of the British fleet
was absent. exercising at sea, when
the German ships were sunk. only
some drifters. small warships and
patrolling aircraft being on guard
over the informed enemy squadron.
Sunk by Won Reuters Order.
Admiral Won Reuter-. commander of
the surrendered German fleet, says he
issued an order to sink the ships. the
Daily Mail adds, and did so because
at the beginning of the war the Ger
man emperor directed that no Ger.
man warship should fall into the en-
emy's hands He says he believed.
from newspaper reports. that the
armistice had been ended.
Admiral Won Reuter- visited Ger
many some weeks ago. it being under
stood at the time that the reason for
his trip there was that he was ill, but
he soon returned. and ii is believed
that at that time he circulated the
order to sink the German ships by
eyading the censorship or making sig
nails to the various vessels, an act
which the close proximity of the Ger
man ships made quite easy. The Mail
quotes the admiralty as denying that
the German crews were periodically
changed and saying that the original
crews remained Oh board the vessels.
There were from $50 to 200 men on
the big ships and from 10 to 20 on
board the destroyers. Therefore,
there were nearly five Thousand in the
water or in the ships bows when the
fleet was sunk. Fourteen were land
ed by the British on Sunday at Nigg.
Russhire, on the northern shore of
Gromarty Firth. They were placed in
hutments and are being held under
military guard
Work Done by Opening Sea Valves.
From the behavior of the ships, ac-
cording to the Mail. il was evident
the sea valves had been opened and
in q surprisingly short time the ves-
sels big and small, began to settle
down. Every effort was made by the
British naval craft to beach the sink
ing ships and in the case of destroy
ers considerable success was achieved.
ever. what an hour before had been q
stately fleet riding calmly at anchor,
was an array of Keeling. rocking bat
the doom of which was writ
ten in their movements.
Here a destroyer would disappear
diHiu d Clouu VI SlCdli, anu There u
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
only the keel showed above water.
The Derfiinger, 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
Scapa Flow were dotted with small
boats full of men, who had with sud
ienness settled the question of the
of the interned ships
German Crew Cheers.
The first boatload was towed along
side of H. NJ. s. Victorious by q
1rifter. A German officer in the boat
ordered his men to cheer. They re-
,ponded with three vigorous "hochs."
Craft of every description followed
last to the side of the warship. each
owing boatloads of Germans. who
IA I'd he