English wireless service reported, and this report was circulated also in neutral newspapers, that German submarines had passed Norwegian coast on their way home with a white flag at the mast-head. This is a pure invention. English wireless has thus again circulated a lie.
At that very time the U-boats were all hurrying home, some of them passing so close to the Norwegian coast, to avoid mines and destroyers, that they could be plainly seen from shore.
When the French and Americans by terrific attacks drove the Germans across the Marne, Berlin announced:
The excellent execution of the movement for changing to the opposite bank of the wide River Marne, which took place unnoticed by the enemy, demonstrates today the splendid ability of the German command and troops.
When the Americans won their notable victory at St. Mihiel we heard from Berlin that the Germans had only "evacuated" the "bend" there to improve lines, and that on the whole, the French and American attacks had failed. And General Wrisberg assured the trusting Teutons back in the fatherland:
The American army also can not terrify us, as we shall settle accounts with them.
Even in November, with total collapse only a few days away, they were still talking of the failure of the Americans and the "victorious repulse" of the French.
After the mutiny at Kiel and other ports, where sailors took possession of the ships and started the revolution, they sent out this bulletin, on November 7:
Concerning situation in Kiel and uprisings in other harbor towns; military protection of Baltic has been carried out without a break by navy. All warships leaving harbor fly war flags. Movements among sailors and workmen have been brought back to peaceful ways.
The surrender of the German High Seas Fleet was gently termed, the "carrying out of armistice conditions at sea!"