The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1919-07-04
GERMANS SINK
INTERNED SHIPS
Nearly Whole Fleet of BattIeships
and Big Cruisers Sunk in
Scapa Flow.
ADMIRAL GAVE THE ORDER.
Armistlce Terms Provided for skele'
ton German Crews on Surrendered
VesseIs-"Serves Us Right"
Says Admiral Scott.

London.-Admiral Won Reuter-, COM
mander of the surrendered German
fleet, personally ordered its scuttling
by their crews in the belief that the
armistice had expired. He says so
himself, according to the Daily Ex-
press, in the following message to the
British commander:
81 ordered the sinking in the belief
the armistice was terminated and fol-
lowing the German navy's tradition,
which knows no surrender"
In the firing on boats in which Ger
man sailors escaped from the scuttled
warships six men were killed and ten
wounded.
"The sinking Of the German fleet at
Scapa Flow is a breach of the terms
of the armistice and tantamount to
new act of war;" declared Admiral Sir
Cyprian A. Bridge, discussing the ac-
ton of the German seamen in scuttling
the interned vessels.
"It looks like a concerted plan of
action directed from Berlin. In the
olden days, after the enemy struck his
flag and danger was suffered through
the action, the seamen aboard would
be court martialed."
The admiralty issued a statement
explaining that "in accordance with
the armistice terms the German ships
were interned with German skeleton
crews as care takers and without Brit
ish guards aboard"
This may be taken to indicate the
admiralty's line of defense, passing
the blame to the authors of the armis-.
free access to the sea cocks at any
time.
A high British naval officer said that
the sea cocks could have been rem
dered harmless at any time by sealing
them by means of acetelyn blow pipes.
After the first blow of the news of
the sinking of the interned fleet naval
officers have begun to realize that the
Germans have achieved a double pur-
pose-they have not only prevented
the final surrender Of their fleet, but
have seriously, if not completely,
blocked the Scapa anchorage.
According to admiral Cyprian
Bridge, the biggest German ships were
scuttled in 120 feet of water. He
added:
"a great amountof time, trouble and
expense will be necessary to raise the
vessels and clear the fairway."
Measured by the engineering prob
lem of raising the Maine at Havana,
it Is matter of serious doubt whether
the heaviest ships will be raised, and
it is equally uncertain whether those
vessels which were beached can be
saved.
An interesting psychological side
light is offered by British editorial
comment. The Daily Express COM
placently congratulates the League Of
Nations on having thus been relieved
of problem.
Admiral Sir Percy Scott says in the
Sunday Times:
'It serves us right for trusting the
Huns. They are barbarians.'
German Crews Treachery.
Washington.-Oficia of the navy
department, naval officers of high rank
and administration officials in general
were amazed when told that the Brit
ish admiralty had announced that
most of the German naval vessels in
Scapa Flow except the dreadnought
Baden had been sunk by their German
caretakers.
Secretary Daniels declined to make
any comment. Naval officers, while
declining to talk for publication, ex-
pressed vigorous opinions. AS they