The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-06-23
THINK MANY HUNS
DROWNED ABOARD
SUNKEN WARSH|PS
Vivid Word Pictures Painted
by Correspondents Who
Saw German Vessels Sunk
by Crews After SiqnaI.

LONDON, June 2s,--Althcugh reports
have stated six Germans were killed
and 10 wounded when the boats OF the
German fleet at seapa Flow were fired
upon subsequent to the souttling Of
the German fleet, the Daily Mail says
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 warshlps and patrolling
aircraft being on guard over the In
termed enemy squadron.
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 German
emperor directed that no German war
ship should fall into the enemy's hands,
tie says he believed, from newspaper
reports, that the armlsticc had been
ended.
Admiral Won Reuter- visited Germany
some weeks ago. II being understood
at the time the reason for his trip
there was he was III. but he soon re-
turned, and 1t is believed that at that
time he circulated the order to sink
the German ships by evading the CEN
sorship or making signals to the var-
ous vessels, an act which the close
proximity OF the German 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 on board
the vessels. There were from 1850 e
70 20 6n board the dsstroyers. There
fore there's were nearly 5000 IN the
water or In the ships bows when the
fleet was sunk. Fourteen were landed
by the British on Sunday at Nigg, Rus
shire, They were placed In hutments
and are being held under military
Sea Valves Opened.
From the behavior OF the ships, ac-
cording to the Mall. II was evident the
sea valves had been opened, and in
a 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 consid
cradle success was achieved. BY
o'clock In the afternoon, however, what
an hour before had been a stately fleet
rlulnR calmly NJ hHCnOr WIS an array
OF reeling rocking battleshps. the doom
of which was written In their move
ments
Here destroyer would disappear
amid n cloud OF steam and there a bat.
tleship would take her last plunge and
disappear in cloud Of spray One
would settle down by the stern and
another would heel over until only the
keel showed above the water. The
Derfflinger, Hindenburg. Won der Tam,
Moltke and Seydlitz settled down be-
side each other the last named turn
ing turtle as she filled with water,
Her keel IL still showing where she
capsized The waters OF the Scapa
Flow were dotted with small boats full
OF men who had, with dramatic sud
denness, settled the question Of the dis
position OF the interned ships.
The first boatload was towed along
side OF H, M. s. Victorious by drifter.
A German officer in the boat ordered
his men to cheer and they responded
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 sword and seemed to wish TO
make an impressive ceremony by hand
Continued on Page 3, Column 81