Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-06-23
SCUTTL|NG FLEET
ACT OF SABOTAGE:
Such Is View Expressed by
United States Navy De-
partment.
THREE WAYS TO PUNISH
Case May Be Referred to Inter
Allied Council and Men
Shot.
THREE WAYS TO PUNISH
BY MATTHEW r. T'IGuE.

WASHINGTON. June 22--The scut-
Ting and possible destruction of the
German fleet interned in Scapa Flow
by the crews was declared today by
Navy and State Department officials to
be the most gigantic act of sabotage
ever known in history, and as present
ing some very serious questions for the
German government
In the first place, it is possible. it is
stated. that the cost OF the feet. which
Is more than one third OF a billion dol
Germany must pay. That. however.
VIII be small matter compared with
lnt possible action against the officers
and the men who are rcsponsibie Tor
the destruction of the properly II Is
NOT known whether the Germans in
auultlon TO scuttiing the ships, de-
sttoyed 'hs motive machinery as they
attempted 10 do with vessels in the
p'f's oi New YORK and az Manila.
Three Ways to Punish Men.
Inc main aspect OF the case. state
department and navy authorities say,
Is the punishment for the crime There
are three Ways in which the men can
be punished. providing they we're moi
Carrying out orders of the German
government:
First-They can be tried by the local
laws OF England for the destruction Of
property.
Second-If guilty under these laws.
an Dc 'ohhAcd IN English prisons
Third-The case may be referred TO
III. me r-a!iied council as an act OF
war ana I, breach o! the arinisticc, and
MARTA! and shot. II the court so dc
cidcs. 81
May Result In Drastic Terms.
oiilcIa's say in any event there will
- severe punishment. and that
o,,iria, ,Sohmect;on ~ be shown with the
berIin, there vii! be some drastic re-
..s!oa OF the purely military terms of
me treaty OF peace. The disposition
so Tar is believed 10 be that the OH
GERS ana crews acted under ins,ruc-
uons, The belief that some official al
nome suggested the crime is based
mans mans 70 destroy or cripple ships which
aad been !nterned in American norris
oecFeiary Of the Navy Daniels points
bowera at me time that these efforts
with the repair Skill OF the navy es :
pe'ts, VINO actually made the vesseIs
,ho 80 ?e'oeI shape than they were before
their crews attempted 10 wreck them.
me spcc!a! interest OF the United
States in the colossal crime, il Vas
snsIes n toda fouid SSs %;s be observed from two
man wreckers is referred 10 the inter
allied military and naval councils fhe
ernr mieea a., aisses VIII be 4 party to what
seconn nnunisnment is decided upon. The
has the United States LOST IN Nv "nas ,hs
crime. oS tue
America Doesnt Lose Anything.
As TO the possible loss to the
have eu i is,ns .a,es, some OF the officials who
sFentua!iy TO be done with the Germ. - -
miEh @ meet say ii Will be nil In other
wb,i me United states cannot lose
mat American naval ohicials w,ra
shar. of Keen about getting amy
prize OF NE w,r German man nigh heei. as a
,h opinion, and most OF them sill are, .ne
ma ma me German type did not harm
SNIP ana that it would possibly he
Deter, II not cheaper, 10 bui,d m0dern
1:..ir,n 1::.'rH InhH ~ endeavor TO reconstruct the
now being built by the United Staies
, , vas, therefore, with great unconcern
,hat 10y 9I'ciais heard from Europe
DO with the German prizes what ~
,ha,l uvI,,'ahs nave actually done with
Grcnt Britain to Explain.
it was also stated that in all prob
aollity the United States will. afJer
receiving the British Admiralty rennri
ons oahe the ne stand that the matter is not
peaSe treaty. but that 1t should be
mace ma an entirely naval question. II
MIR, ~ ha mated ad ,hat even that question
igence on the part Of the British gov
er errninent, which was the custodian of
tne is pr property. That phase OF the issue
10 NOT discussed here AT any length
put II is evident to officials that Great
pr,;aIh rai;an herself i TO have an investi-
charge OF the ships and there may hn
courts martial both of Germans and Of
British officers.
1t is Indicated already. however. ,ba,
the British officers in charge vii
probably make the plea that as The
nohor OF the German nation was
i.ti ina
waichfulness would not be demanded
under that condition as would be de-
mahueu III The war were in progress
MLAClIMHTAM MOT cunnnInEa