The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-04-13
PLAN TO RAISE
 GERMAN FLEET ]. FROM OCEAN BED
British Admiralty Will Try To Salvage Scalpa
 Flow Vessels

The German fleet is to be raised. The admiralty has entered into contract for its salvage with a London firm. Since the memorable June 21, 1919, with one or two exceptions, the sunken ships have lain as they sunk, menace to shipping and a worry to harassed lighthouse service in maintaining numer- ous buoys and beacons.
 For though the name of Scapa Flow only attained a worldwide significance Iin the war, it's waters have been well known and much frequented by mar iners in all ages. 4a- -...-,.-.
 Less than an hour after the first ship sunk on nidsummer,s day five years ago, rumor reached me that there were strange happenings in the Flow. As the naval authorities at that time were in possession of all the telephone sys- tems in the country, l decided to test the inyiolability of naval secrecy. So to naval headquarters in Kirkwall I went, says a correspondent in the Man. chester Guardian. T know" I said to the. officer in charge, that you caR't tell me anything, but is it worth my while to take a run eight miles out on the roady
 Well worth your while"
 Thus it was that witnessed one of the most dramatic incidents of the war. z. As The Fleet Sank
 saw battle ships, battle cruisers and cruisers almost imperceptibly sink un- til their decks reached the level of the sea, then wallow and founder on their sides, and simply disappear. One mo- ment dull gray side like some huge whale, the next nothing to mark the spot but patch of water boiling like cauldron.
 witnessed the frantic efforts to beach the great Hindenburg. But our naval men were too late. She settled down in the mud close to the little island of Cava, and there she still lies, huge masts and tunnels rearing them selves from the water into space. The cruiser Bremse was beached near the air station at Swanbister But she had lost all stability. With her bow hard on the ground she lurched drunkenly for a, minute or two,, then broke her back, and fell on her side. The Derf. finger and Seidlitz sank at their moor ings. At low tide parts of their hulls are exposed, danger spots, on which numerous fishing trawlers have stranded and been held fast until released by the rising tide.
 Further to. the south the, destroyers lie, opposite the now derelict naval har. bor works at Lyness on the island of Hoy. Their masts iut from the water at irregular intervals like some broken down fence. .-.s ., ars ..
 The salvage, operations now about to commence are the first to be attempted on any large scale. A destroyer was purchased over a year ago by small company in StromneSs,, raised, and brought into harbor for breaking up. It is believed the speculation has proved very remunerative. Strange uses have been found for portions of this engine of war. Boiler tubes have been pol ished and sold literally by the thou sand for such, household purposes as easement curtain rods. .. ~
 Last year company purchased some of the destroyers, Operations went on for some months last summer and it was understood that in the event of these proving successful the company had an option on thearemainder of the fleet. A certain amount of material was brought ashore, but no ship was raised. When the salvage ship pro- ceeded to it's home port last fall it was stated operations would be recommended in the spring, but it is not known how this company is affected. by the con tract now entered into between the aoniirlity. and the L0inlen firm.-