REVOLUTION IN THE GERMAN NAVY

KIEL IN REBEL HANDS TROOPS JOIN MOVEMENT

At Kiel, the great naval base at the Baltic end of the Kaiser Wilhelm Canal, a revolution has broken out among the men of the German navy. The news is contained in the following telegram from Reuter received late last night:

AMSTERDAM, WEDNESDAY.

The Kölnische Zeitung reproduces the following particulars regarding the rising at Kiel from the Hamburger Fremdenblatt under yesterday’s date: “Herren Haase and Ledebour, the Reichstag Independent Socialist leaders, have been summoned by telegraph to Kiel for the purpose of completing the local committee. On the battleship Konig the officers defended the German war flag with revolvers, but they were overpowered by the crew, who hauled down the war flag and hoisted the red flag. Two officers were killed, including the commander, and several were wounded. “Three or four companies of infantry which arrived at Kiel last night immediately joined the movement. A fourth was disarmed. During the night hussars were sent from Wandsbek, but at an hour’s distance from Kiel they encountered sailors with machineguns, and were forced to turn back. “The Soldiers’ Council has resolved that all officers are to remain at their present posts, but they must obey the instructions of the Council. An order to officers to remove their cockades was cancelled on the suggestion of the Workers’ Council; and it was expressly stated that in all circumstances officers must be treated humanely. The Governor, who is Admiral Souchon, was taken to the railway station on Monday evening, and was detained there several hours, because it was supposed that still more troops would arrive from the outside. “The control of food supplies is in the hands of the Soldiers’ Council. Machine-guns are mounted at various points in the town, but citizens can move about freely. All is quiet so far at Cuxhaven and Wilhelmshaven.”

AMSTERDAM, WEDNESDAY.

The revolutionary sailors in Kiel declare that they will not go back to their ships until peace is signed. They have established guards on each ship armed with machine-guns and have hereby rendered the approach of the authorities impossible. Admiral Souchon, the Governor, having asked the sailors what they wanted, approved of all their demands, including even the refusal to salute officers and the closing down of all the officers’ casinos. It is said that scenes of plunder are taking place on the battleships in the harbour, and that all the money held by the pursers has disappeared.