Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-06-22
ALL BATTLESH|PS
. EXCEPT ONE SENT
DOWNBY TEUTONS
Seamen Open Seacocks and
Then Flee to Small
Life Boats. An
SEVERAL SLAIN AND SHOT
BY BULLETS FROM BRITISH
Under Terms Of Armistice No
Allied Guards Were Placed
on Vessels. 81
CALLED INTERNATIONAL THEFT
CALLED INTERNATIONAL THEFT
English Officials Indicate They Be-
1icve Crime Was Ordered and
Directed From Berlin. ~

LONDON. June 21.-On the very day
the German ministry under Premier
Scheidcmann was giving way at Berlin
to a new ministry under the PREMIER
ship of Herr Bauer. for the purpose
of meeting the allied demands with
respect to the peace treaty. the Ger
man officers and crews Of the German
warships informed at Scapa Flow
opened the seacocks Of the vessels.
Many of the larger vessels-battleships
and cruisers-were sent to the bottom.
Some Of the smaller craft were beached.
Only very few remain afoat. SEX
Under the terms of the armistice.
according TO the British Admiralty,
only by Germans. When the ships
were settling deep the Germans took
to the boats, some Of which, refusing
to surrender. were shelled, and a num-
Eighteen destroyers were beached by
tugs; four are still ahoat. while the
remainder went under.
Plans Carefully Made. @S s:e
The Wholesale sinking of the Ger
man ships. which were surrendered
under the terms of the armistice, was
carefully arranged by officers and
crews: All explosives had been re-
of destroying the fleet was by. opening
the seacocks The ships went down
slowly with the German flag. which
the crews had hoisted, showing at the
mastheads.
The crews. composed entirely of
Germa ans, under the terms Of the armis-
5ss Which did td not permit of British
the vessels began to settle. While
making for the shore the boats were
challenged and called upon to sur
~
summons and were fired upon, a few
casualties resulting. s+
This stroke apparently was an entire
surprise, and the first news reached
London through a correspondent, who
was Informed by farmers in the neigh-
borhood that they had seen the Ger-5i
aloft.
Report Officially Confirmed.
The Admiralty at first denied the re-
port, but later confirmed it and issued
an official statements The German
officers and crews have been made
prisoner. None of the officials tonight
would offer an opinion to how they
are to be dealt with. @
The statement, which was issued by
the Admiralty, says:
According to the latest reports from
Scapa Flow all the informed battleships
except the battieship Baden. Which is
still ahoat. Five light cruisers have
sunk. but three have been beaehed.
aioat The rest OF the destroyers have ave
sunk.
"A German rear. admiral and most
OF the Germans from the ships are
Some boats from the ships refused to
stop when ordered and were fired on.
\ small number OF Germans were killed
49," I'm "a, aeeo I'D With the terms Of
takers
aboard" 10
Makeup OF High Fleet.
When the German high seas fleet
las; and was
nine battleships. 1--WE battle cruisers.
sysn sh Far cruiTsrS n and ify
are still at scapa Flow.
:, The battleships at sGapa Flow are
bayern. Mark graf. Kronprinz wiihelm.
Prinzregent Luitpola. Grosser Kuer-
fuerst and the Frederick Der Grease.
battle cruisers are the Seydlitz Him
denburg. Moltke. Won Der Tam and
The sinking Of the German, fleet In
greatest international bank robbery in
may be. Britain must account to the
allies for Whatever loss may have been
appointed receiver of the fleet Dis
position of the former Kaiser's armada
mas never been definitely determined
by the allies. although various sug-
Gestions have been advanced, including
apportionment among the allies and
sinking OF the whole fleet at sea. 6Ss
y Only the bareSt details grudingIy
admitted by the Admiralty have been
given to the public SO far, but IL Is
safe to perdict that an uproar and de-
mand for parliamentary investigation
viii follow publication of the fun II
news.
British Pride Hurt.
Not only is British pride fearfuiiy
hurt by this twelfth-hour German
laugh. but the national conscience is
strung because OF the responsibility B
assumed as curator OF the German
fleet. Altogether it is an embarrassing
contrast to the JOY paeans raised over
the ignomnious surrender on Noyeni-
Der % last. II
Scathing comments arc to be exs
pected from the French press Inasd
much as France had counted upon &C.
curing some of the German ships to
build up her own feet, and had rigidiy
opposed tho suggestion on sinking the
fleet at sea.
This tardy scuttling OF the dishon4
ored German fleet viii! not add lusters
10 inc German reputation" said the X
Express. 1T Is doubtful IL anybody 4
is to blame"
Commenting on the sinking OF this
German ships at Scapa Flow, Admiral
Sir Cyprian Bridges said tonight:
This piece OF Sratuitous lniQuity