BROADSIDE OF NAZI WARSHIP

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20122, 16 December 1939, Page 7

BROADSIDE OF NAZI WARSHIP

HEAVIER THAN THREE BRITISH EPIC SOUTH ATLANTIC SEA FIGHT TRIBUTES TO “BALLISTIC MIRACLE” CHATFIELD REMEWS NAVAL QUEST (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (British Official Wireless.) _ Eced. 1,5,0a».m. ! RUGBY, Deo. 16. The .Admiralty this .evening issued the following communique: " u *Mo reports have been received of the killed and .TCoimdgd .in/the British ships which took part in a sharp action Montevideo. These will be published at. the feailiest ‘xc^aejit. ' ‘ilii spite if Ahe .damage which caused HALS. Exeter to dicoP'AUt two small Gin. gun cruisers pursuet tifediiOctmian ‘ppeket hattleship ’ into the River Plate, and now await iher in 'the estuary where they have been strongly rmitfoiiced. Gilt must be understood that very large forces have been epiployed for many weeks in searching vast of the Spilth .Atlantic, both by sea and air, and much time and many disappointments were inevitable before the raider could be found. f ‘lt is remarkable how little hindrance the Graf von Spec has been able to inflict upon the movements of hundreds of ships through these waters during the two months she has been at large. Compared with the mischief wrought by the Emden, her depredations have been petty. • “As soon as details of the action arc received, the Admiralty will publish a further statement dealing with the ■ conduct of the .officers and men who, under the command of Commodore Harwood, encountered and chased from the sea a vessel so much superior in weight of metal.” .Comparisons of Broadsides. In this eonneetioiiit’is interesting to note that the “pocket battleship” with six llin. guns, firing projectiles of 7161 b each, and four 5,9 in. guns, firing projectiles of 1031bs. each, has a broadside of 47Q81bs. The combined broadsides of the three British cruisers which engaged the Graf von Spec made 3136 lbs. * .The Exeter, with six Bin. guns, firing projectiles of 2561b5. each,' has' a broadside of 15361b5.

Commodore H. 11. Harwood, who commanded HALS. Exeter, H.M.S. Ajax, and H.M.S. Achilles has been commodore of the South American Division since September, 1936.

Reports from Montevideo state that wounded from the British warships, which followed the enemy vessel into the outer harbour, are also being landed.

' Speaking in the House of Lords, ? the Minister for the Coordination of Defence, Lord Chat-field, replied to Lord Strabolgi, who alleged that the Admiralty was withholding information. Lord Chatficld said: “I have no doubt that the Graf von Spec will soon go to sea again—for a short time. We have been hunting for the Graf von Spec for some time. You can’he,assured that any ship that got into touch with a German is not going to lose her, even if it meant going to the bottom. That is the spirit animating the navy. lam not able at present to give details of the torpedoed German cruiser.”

Lord Chatfield added that the international problem regarding the Graf von Spec was at present a matter under active consideration between -England and Uruguay. Lord Strabolgi said that the public should be told the /lull magnificent story about the Graf von Spec. It was a ballistic miracle for a ship of the Graf von Spec's armament to -be .attacked successfully by light cruisers. The encounter would make history as an epic- The world should know the ‘technical facts.