The Covington leader. (Covington, Tenn.) 18??-current, 1919-06-26

den and three destroysrs remain
afl0at.
-Four hundred thousand tons, valued
at approximately S350.000, 900, disap.
pearaa, and the admiralty told the
story in exactly 1se nerds.
The Genesis, hitherto the model Of
breyity, required 400 words.
History's most remarkable naval
destruction, which in the short space
of four hours wiped out a fleet more
powerful than the entire French navy
and almost equal to Japan's, def
nitely ends the naval power which
disputed the supremacy of the seas
at Jutland and once threatened Brit
tania's rule Of the waves. In four
hours this mighty armada is wiped
off the face Of the waters, and a
small body of men in London, possess
ing exclusive news sources discuss
the revelation of the admiralty's 1870
words in mysterious undertones.
As a matter of fact, very few adj
miralty officers are in London today.
This being Sunday, the various SEN
iors and higher officials are spending
the weekend at their country places,
beyond reach by telephone, and see
ing no necessity of returning to their
offices in the city.
Today's great question is "why?"
That is what the British public wants
to know and what Parliament will
demand when it reassembles.
Why were the Germans allowed to
destroy the fleet held in trust by the
British navy pending its disposition
by the peace congress?
There is no answer.
But already the first evidence of
the admiralty's abb is contained in
last nights statement that "in ac-
cordance with the armistice terms the
Germans ships were interned with
German skeleton crews as caretak-
ers and without British guards
aboard"
This may be taken to indicate the
admiralty's line of defense, passing
the blame to the authors of the armi-
stice terms for leaving the Germans
free access to the seacocks at any
time.
A high British naval officer tells
Universal service that the seacocks
could have been rendered harmless at
any time by sealing them with acct
yelne blow pipes.
After the first blow of the news
naval officers have begun to realize
that the Germans have achieved a
double purpose; they have not only
the final surrender of their
fleet, but have seriously, if not COM
pletely blocked the Scapa Flow an
chorage.
According to Admiral Bridge, the
biggest German ships were scuttled
in 100 feet of water. He added: "a
great amount of time, trouble and
expense will be necessary to raise
The vessels and clear the fairway."
Measured by the engineering prob
EN- Of raising the Maine at Havana,
It is matter Of serious doubt if the
heaviest ships will be raised, and it
Is equally uncertain whether those
vessels which were beached can be
,alvaged.
An interesting psychological side
light is offered by British editorial
The Daily Express com
placently congratulates the league of
nations of having been relieved of
one source of embarrassment. Not a
word is said CONCERNING the fixing
Of responsibility.
Admiral Perry Scott says in the
Sunday Times:
ut serves US right for trusting
the Huns. They are barbarians."
The Baden (28,000-ton) battleship,
was still ahoat at 4:30 o'clock this
afternoon. She was boarded by Brit
ish sailors who hoisted the white en-
sign to the main mast, leaving the
German flag flying beneath it.
Of the five light cruisers one was
cast adrift and came safely ashore.
The Emden (5,4O0 tons) and another
were towed by tugs into Swansbister
Bay and are now half submerged. A
fourth light cruiser suddenly turned
and sank while being towed, and the
fifth sank at her anchorage. All
that remains visible of the armada is
the Baden, few dull red bulls peep
ing above the shallow water, three
small cruisers all half submerged
and less than a dozen of fhn 5( de-