PROW TURNED TOWARDS OCEAN

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20123, 18 December 1939, Page 5

PROW TURNED TOWARDS OCEAN

UNEXPECTED MONTEVIDEO MOVE EMBASSY HAD DECLINED TIME LIMIT REQUEST FOR UNLIMITED EXTENSION MORE NAZI CRAFT BELIEVED ON WAY (Elce. Tel. Copyright —United Press Assn.) | (Rood. Dec. 18, 12 noon.) NEW YORK, Dee. 17. .. . The Uruguayan Government has fixed 8 p.m. to-day, Sunday, as the limit of the stay at Montevideo of the German “pocket” battleship Graf von Spec, says the Montevideo. . correspondent of the New York Times. The news agencies at Montevideo are agreed that Uruguay has given the Graf von Spec until Sunday night to leave, but in the absence of an official Government announcement .the dead-line is uncertain. According to the Associated Press of America, the Uruguayan Naval Board, after inspecting the Nazi vessel, recommended the time limit should be 5 p.m. on Sunday, •Montevideo time. The Foreign Minister, Dr. Alberto Guani, refused publicly to announce the actual dead-line on the ethical giounds cst he be regarded as revealing the German plans to the enemy. The German Embassy at Montevideo is declining to accept, the time limit and is insisting on an unlimited extension on the ground that it is impossoble to complete repairs., the impression in Uruguayan circles is that the Germans are playing for time and are more interested in awaiting favourable circumstances to escape rather than to make repairs. Negotiations Suspended At 1 a.m. Dr. Guani said the negotiations were suspended until 8 a.m. on Sunday. , The Graf von Spec’s crew were working feverishly yesterday to repair the damage. Rain reduced the visibility to a mile and gave her a chance to escape. Officers ashore returned to the ship after which increased smoke was visible from the stacks, but she did not move. The rain latei ceased and visibility increased. With many repairs made and a stock of provisions aboard, the Graf von Spec apparently was ready early to-day to fight or run the Allied blockade. Small craft and barges were ordered away half an hour after midnight, anc the Graf von Spec lay with her bow towards the breakwater, but despite favourable conditions with rhe moon set and slight fog she had not moved at 2.20 a.m. Subsequent messages from . Montevideo, stated that the Graf von Spee remained poised for flight uhih t Uruguayan Cabinet met to decide the German plea tor an extension of the stay. It is officially learned that the commander, Captain Hans : Langsdorff, considered taking the Graf von Spec to Buenos Aires, but when the subject was broached unofficially, the Germans were informed that the Graf von Spec would not be allowed to remain over 24 hours in any Argentine port. Movement From Anchorage. The British Associated Press reports, however, that the Graf von Spee is moving up the river, apparently to Buenos Aires. ’ / \ further Montevideo message stated that shortly before 6 p.m. the Graf von Spec began raising her anchors She° then began moving up the River I'late apparently i towards Buenos Aires instead of the open sea, but she: halt d suddenly after proceeding a few hundred yards. She then swung about and headed towards the sea at (> p.m., a transferring all the married men on board to the Taeoma, which followed. The Rome radio reports that the Admiral Sclieer, escorted by submarines, is proceeding to Montevideo. . According to agency reports from Rio Jo Janeiro HMS Ark Royal and TLM.S. Renown called thuc_ Hus morning to refuel. It had been officially stated that the Renown had asked permission to enter the haiboui.