The sun., 1919-06-22
OF Seventy-one Vessels Only
the Bayern and a Few De-
stroyers Still Float.
BRITISH SALVAGE SOME
German Admiral and Most
of the Skeleton Crews
Put Under Arrest.
OTHERS SHOT IN FLIGHT
London Amazed at Audacity as
Under Armistice Only Crews
Were on Board.
BRITISH SALVAGE SOME
OTHERS SHOT IN FLIGHT

LONDON, June 21.-The German
high seas fleet has been destroyed by
German skeleton crews that were in
termed aboard the ships at Scapa
Flow, it was announced officially to-
night. OF the seventy-one ships of all
classes which were surrendered to the
allied fleets in an imposing ceremony
on November p only the dreadnought
Bayern, 2S,000 tons, and a few de-
stroyers are afloat.
After day of rumors regarding
the destruction of the feet the Ad-
miralty issued a statement this eve
ming in which the extent of the
damage and some details of the con-
epiracy were given. The statement
follows:
According to the latest reports
from Scapa Flow all the interned
battleships and battle cruisers
have sunk, except the battle
ship Baden (evidently the Bayern,
since the lists at the time the Ger
man ships surrendered did not
include a warship by the name
of Baden), which Is still afioat
Five light cruisers have sunk, but
three have been beached. Eigh.
teen destroyers were beached by
local tugs. Four destroyers are
still aflodt. The rest Of the de-
stroyers have sunk.
A German Rear Admiral and
most Of the Germans from the
ships are now In custody aboard
British ships. Some boats from
the ships refused to stop when or
dered and were fired on. A small
number of Germans were killed or
wounded.
In accordance with the terms Of
the armistice, the German ships
were interned with skeleton crews
as caretakers and without British
guards aboard.
London Ama.ed at News.
London heard the first reports that
the Germans had been able to destroy
their interned fleet with incredulity.
II was not common knowledge that the
Germans were in unguarded posses
sion of their own ships in the land
locked harbor called Scapa Flow. The
barbor is less than 200 miles north of
Edinburgh and is surrounded by the
Islands of the Orkney group.
The first reports came in the form of
an Exchange Telegraph despatch from
its correspondent in northern Scot
land. According to this despatch the
German crews hoisted the imperial en-
sign to the masthead before sinking
them.
The crews opened seacocks on all
the ships at the same moment. As
each began to list the crews took to
small boats.
When the report was circulated by
means of news tickers the Admiralty
was pressed by requests for infor-
nation. The Exchange company's
first report was that all OF the Ger
man ships had been sunk. This re-
port was retracted within a few mo-
ments, but the Admiralty's official
statement OF this evening makes It ap-
parent that the first report was SUBJ
stantially correct.
ships That Were sunk.
The dreadnoughts and battle cruisers
sunk were the following
Dreadnoughts-Frie der Crosse,
24.ll3 tons Kontg Albert, 2+.ll3 tons |;
Kaiser, $4,000 tons; Kronprinz WIZ
helm, 25 900 tons; Kaiserin. 24.l13
tons; Markgraf, 25.?93 tons; Prinz Re
gent Luitpold. 24.ll3 tons Grosser Ku-
fuerst, 25.29S tons.
Battle cruisers-Seydlltz. rs 900 tons !;
Derfinger, $4,000 tons Hindenburg. s7.-
900 tons Moltke. $4,000 tons Won der
Tam is. 900 tons.
All the dreadnoushts and battle
cruisers had a part In the Jutland en-
gagement. For months after there was
controversy between the British and
German admiraltiee about whether tho
Kaiser and Kronprlng had been sunk
The Germans asserted that the Kaiser
was hit twice, one man being killed, and
that the Kronprinz was not struck at all
by shells. The British asserted that
, they had positive proof that both
dreadnoughts had been sunk by tor
pedoos. but their surrender after the
armistIce proved that they were wrong
The battle cruisers. which bore the
brunt OF the shock OF conflict with Ad-
miral Beatys ships, all bore marks OF
battle when surrendered The Seydlitz
and Derfinser In particular were badly
SCARED.
When the Germans steamed their
ships between the lines of the allied
fleets at the Firth of Forth on Novem-
ber 81 and made formal surrender
II was supposed that all fght had been
whipped out of officers and men. The