To Blow Up
Ships at
THIS DECISION FINALLY DISPOSES OF
TION WHICH HAS CAUSED MUCH
DISCUSSION
London, Jan. 6 German warships
sunk by their officers In Scapa Flow
will be blown up soon, it was stated
here today. The decision to dispose
of the vessels in this way followed
the completion of investigations by a
special commission representing all
of the Allies. Experts employed by
the salvage department of the British
Admiralty spent several weeks taking
soundings In Scapa Flow, and the in
formation they furnished the com-'
mission was used as a basis to deter
mine whether the ships should be
raised or destroyed.
The decision, announced in the fore
going despatneh, to blow up the Ger
man ships sunk in Scapa Flow appar
ently disposes finally of a question
which has oaused a great deal of dis
cussion in all theLallied countries. The
almost insuperable task of raising the
vessels and the posstbiiltiy that the
salvaged materials would not be of
great value were believed to have
weighed heavily in favor of destroy
ing the vessels by explosives.
Scuttling of the unit3 of the Ger
man fleet interned at Scapa Flow
occurred on June 21, 1919, and was
carefully arranged by officers and
crews. Nine battleships, five battle
cruisers, eight light cruisers, and
numerous smaller craft were sunk,
while others went ashore in a half
sunken condition. All explosives had
been removed from the vessels by
allied officers, and the only means
of destroying the fleet was by open
ing the sea cocks. The ships went
down slowly with the German flag,
which the crews had hoisted, show
ing at the mast heads. The flying of
a red flag at noon was a signal for
the wholesale sinkings.
