BERLIN VERSION

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

BERLIN VERSION

“COMPLETE VICTORY” GERMAN VESSEL APPARENTLY ‘NORMAL’ PORT TELLS OF DAMAGE (Reed. Dec. 15. 3 p.m.) LONDON, Dec. 14. According to the official Berlin news agency the latest Montevideo .despatches state that the Graf von Spee shows no signs of damage and life aboard is "normal.” The control towers and hull are said to be intact. Other German reports continue shamelessly to claim a "complete victory.” Thus the semi-official Deutscher Dienst says that the "Ajax fled,” and the Exeter was "shelled to pieces” while other reports claim that the Achilles was sunk. The Berlin radio, on the other hand, admits that the Graf von Spee was hit several times, but states that the German ship put the Exeter out of action and heavily damaged one other cruiser. The German official news, agency in Berlin has released a dispatch, ostensibly .from Buenos Aires, saying: "News of a successful naval engage ment of a German warship with several British cruisers made ar< enormous impression. It. was not thought possible that a German war ship could break the British blockade 'and appear on this side of the Atlantic, which is dominated by the British navy. The only British reports of the engagement so far available are obviously aimed at minimising the British' losses, but it is established that the German warship caused heavy losses and damage to British cruisers, forcing part of them to fall out of action and seek safety in Montevideo. Able to Hold Own “This German naval victory is regarded as important because it proves that the German navy is able to hold its own even in the most remote zone against a force far superior in numbers. “All reports confirm that the British used mustard gas, thus spoiling the German vessel’s food. That was the reason the German warship also anchored at Montevideo.”

As already reported, the British Admiralty denies the statement issued by the German Legation at Montevideo that the Graf Spee’s casualties were mostly caused because the British used mustard gas grenades. “The allegation is entirely without foundation. No mustard gas grenades or shells have ever been made or used by the navy,” stated the Admiralty. 'Further Montevideo reports state that inspection of the Graf Spee reveals that two shells pierced the fighting tower, entering on the port side and emerging to starboard. Two sections of the forward starboard armour plate were smashed. There ■were five impacts, apparently from small shells, on the port side waterline. The tail part of the fuselage of an aeroplane was shot off. The extent of the interior damage cannot be ascertained.