German crews tried to scuttle their merchant ships lying in Chilean harbours according to the Dutch newspaper Algemeen Handelsblad dated 7 September 1918

An item reported that on Tuesday evening the crews of the German ships interned in Chilean harbours tried to scuttle their ships. All over Chile outrage expressed. In three harbours were at the same time the machinery with dynamite destroyed by the quick responding Chilean navy authorities by sending military on board could be prevent that the ships were destroyed.