ACHILLES GUNS

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

ACHILLES GUNS

GERMAN ADMISSION ROCKED GRAF SPEE STORY OF CAPTAIN ACCURACY ADMIRED (Reed. Dec. 18, 9 a.m.) NEW YORK, Dec. 16 The Commander of the Graf von Spee. Captain Hans Langsdorfl told the port authorities a shortage of fuel for his vessel and the herding tactics of the Biiiish cruisers ‘-placed „ him between the devil and the deep blue >ea,” reports the Montevideo correspondent of the Associated Press of America. Captain Langsdorff added that when he sighted H.M.S Exeter at 6 a.m. off Brazil, the Graf Spee s fuel was almost exhausted because he bad been unable to make contact with the supply ship Tacoma, so he headed scuth. Off Uruguay he encountered H.M.S. Achilles and H.M.S. Ajafc which manoeuvred, keeping the Graf von Spee between them and the shore. Captain Langsdorff was afraid of risking the shallow water to starboard and was without 'sufficient fuel for a run to the sea for a freer combat nosition. so he opened fire on H.M.S Exeter. In the lively exchange which followed, H.M.S. Exeter was damaged severely before H.M.S. A.iax and H.M.S. Achilles could get into action. It was the latter’s- Gin guns, however, that really rocked ’the Graf Spee. Captain Langsdorff praised the British marksmanship and said that enormous damage was inflicted by the powertul shells which exploded after piercing the Graf Spec’s armour. He added that with 'his ship holed, many of the crew dead and his attemps to manoeuvre frustrated, he . was forged to run to port,