An item dated Copenhagen 31 July reported that one of the best Danish warships the cruiser Niels-Juel was sold for 12.000.000 Danish crones sold to the Chinese government for anti-pirate patrols.(1) The sale was confirmed by the newspapers Tilburgsche Courant and Algemeen Handelsblad both dated 1 August. The newspaper Het nieuws van den dag voor Nederlandsch-Indië dated 2 August reported that she could be bought for 8.000.000 Danish crones and that a Chinese agent was interested in her.
Note
1. Coastal defence ship laid down on 21 September 1914 at the Orlogsvaerftet, Copenhagen, launched on 3 July two years later, completed on 23 May 1923 and sunk on 29 August 1943, salvaged and commissioned as the German training ship Nordland and on 3 May 1945 sunk after being damaged during a British air attack on Eckernförde on the 1st. In Danish service consisted her main armament of 10x1-15cm guns. In 1952 partly salvaged and broken up. So in fact she was never commissioned in Chinese service.
The newspaper Tilburgsche Courant dated 29 July referred to the Danish magazine National Tidende of Copenhagen reported that a foreign businessman representing a unknown foreign power contacted the Danish cabinet with the intention to buy the Niels Juel. The same magazine reported further that he visited the ship accompanied by an employee of the department of navy and immediately wanted to buy her. The social democratic minister of defence Rasmussen confirmed this all although stating official that the cabinet could not sell her but if in the autumn the buyer still was interested in her the commission of finances would be asked to take over the issue. The cabinet made clear that the selling price would be used to strengthen the Danish navy, if possible by buying a new ship. Rumours reported that the unknown power was China although also Siam [Thailand] and the Baltic countries were mentioned. She was built in 1918 and mainly used for showing the flag or transporting the Royal family. The magazine also made clear that she was the only ship left of the navy. According to the opinions of many was selling her the same as selling the national honour while others claimed that the navy could not be not longer called a navy.
