Such instincts are bred deep into the men of families such as mine.
We approach the culmination of events. To-day Germany has called for an
armistice. It has been inevitable since our Allies began falling away
from us like rotten print.
The terms will doubtless be hard.
* * * * *
Heavens above! but the terms are crushing!
All the U-boats to be surrendered, the High Seas Fleet interned; why
not say "surrendered" straight out, it will come to that, unless we
blow them up in German ports.
The end of Kaiserdom has come; we are virtually a republic; it is all
like a dream.
* * * * *
We have signed, and the last shot of the world-war has been fired.
Here everything is confusion; the saner elements are trying to keep
order, the roughs are going round the dockyard and ships, looting
freely.
"Better we should steal them than the English," and "There is no
Government, so all is free," are two of their cries.
There has been a little shooting in the streets, and it is not safe for
officers to move about in uniform, though, on the whole, I have
experienced little difficulty.
I was summoned to-day before the Local Council, which is run by a man
who was a Petty Officer of signals in the _Koenig_. He recognized me and
looked away.
I was instructed to take U.122 over to Harwich for surrender to the
English.
I made no difficulty; some one has got to do it, and I verily believe I
am indifferent to all emotions.
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