Little Falls herald., 1919-01-03

FRIDAY, JANUARY, s, 1913
saw GERMAN FLEET
HIRAM rREBBY WITH AMERICAN
SQUADRON WHEN GERMAN
BOATS SURRENDERED
Hiram Trebby, who is in the navy
assigned to the U. S. S. New York, the
flag ship Of the American squadron,
which for fourteen months had been.
operating in the North Sea-, arrived
Sunday ON a furlough at his home here.
As the American squadron played an
important part in taking into custody
the surrendered German fleet on Nov.
2l, Mr.. Trebby had an interesting story
to tell concerning it. ...r' ..
. Both the American squadron, eompos-
ed of the u. s. S. New York, Texas,
Arkansas, Wyoming and Florida, and
the British squadron composed of a
much larger number of battle craft, on
wireless telegraphic orders, stripped for
action and prepared to steam out Of the
Firth of Forth, Scotland, where they
were lying and meet the German feet
which was scheduled to arrive sometime
that morning. Strict hattie order was
maintained on every ship as precau-
tion against any hostile move on the
part Of the Germans.
At 3:45 a. m. everything was in read
mess, anchor had been weighed and the
"squadron of reception" was on it's
way out of the Firth of Forth. The
area of ships covered by the squadron
was IS square miles. Bird Island,
about Is miles east of the mouth of the
Firth of Forth, was passed at 4:30. The
German feet came to anchor here later
in the day. At a. m. the squadron
started maneuvers within 20 miles of
the point where they were to meet the
Germans. BY a. m. two columns had
been built short distance apart
through which the German fleet was to
pass. The Germans were sighted at
$3.50 and at 9:20 had arrived at tho
place the Allied squadron was stationed.
The first ships of the German fleet
which entered the Allied columns were
II battle cruisers, next came bat
tie ships, then 49 light cruisers out of so
which were supposed to have arrived.
One hit mine enroute and sunk.
Bringing up the rear of the greatest
naval surrender in history, were 100
submarines, each riding on the surface.
The German ships few the flag Of sur
render. at their main masts and the
white flags at their fore masts. The
Allied squadron flew all flags Of battle
and the national colors. Two German
transports accompanied the feet to
carry the officers and the crews Of the
ships back to Germany.
When the last of the German ships
had arrived, they steamed to Bird Is
land, where they dropped anchor at IL
a. m. Here the officers and crews of
the ships were examined and after q
two-days' stay, were put on board
their transports and sent back to Kiel,
Germany. Each Of the ships Of the Al
lied squadron had one German ship to
account for.
Trebby stated that the German sailors
showed a decided dislike for the Brit
ish, but were very friendly with the
Americans. When the German fleet
passed the New York cheers of greeting
we're sent up. Nothing Of the sort hap
pened when the British ships we're
passed.
After leaving the German fleet the
American ships steamed back to Roysth
on the Firth Of Forth where they drop
ped anchor. At almost the same in
slant that anchor was dropped it was
announced that censorship on all mail
was lifted. Trebby stated that there
was great rejoicing among the crews,
as heretofore nothing could be written
in letters to home concerning the posi-
tion of the squadron and it's maneuyers.
The squadron lay in the Firth OF
Of Forth until the first OF December,
when it again put to sea, it's object be-
ing to meet President Wilson, who at
that time was about to leave America
for Europe to attend the peace confer
ence. The George Washington> which
the president and his party were aboard,
and it's conveys, were met about ninety
miles off the coast of France and were
escorted to Best, France, by the Amer
lean squadron.
The New York came back with the
U. s. S. Pennsylvania, Utah, Oklahoma
and Nevada, ships which conveyed the
George Washington to France, and land
ed in New York on. December 26. A.
great naval parade was first executed
before Secretary Of the Navy Josephus
Daniels, before the crews Of the ships
were allowed to 90 ashore. The George
Washington arrived at the same time
loaded with returning soldiers from
France. .sg - ,,--.s ..s -
Trebby tells Of what might have
been the greatest naval battle in his
tory. On October % German messages
were detected which gave information
that. the German fleet was about to
venture out to engage the allied fleet IN
the North sea. Mutiny on board the
German ships at about this time dis
pelled all attempts Of such an engage
ment. It was later learned that the Ger