EMPIRE PRIDE

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

EMPIRE PRIDE

EPIC OF SEA CRUISERS’ FEAT LONDON ECHOES

i PRAISE BY NEUTRALS NFAV YORK HILARITY GERMAN PICTURES (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (British Official Wireless.) Reed. 11.40 a.m. RUGBY, Dec. 17. British newspapers reflect the great | interest aroused by the dramatic naval situation in the South Atlantic and the indication that the German ship Graf von Spee must leave Montevideo harbour within a few hours or accept internment by the Uruguayan authorities for the duration of the war. The Sunday newspapers comment on Wednesday’s engagement. The Observer says: “The British Navy deli vered a resounding stroke that made the whole Empire tingle with pride and satisfaction. The cruisers that sent the far more powerful pocket battleship Graf von Spee, staggering into neutral shelter have registered the most dramatic victory of the still young war. “There is little need to trumpet its significance. That is done with sufficient emphasis by the onlooking world. “Neutral comment has no hesitation either in proclaiming its completeness and importance, or in dismissing the silly automatic lie from Berlin ascribing it to gas shells. There are events that make perversities and propaganda merely advertise their own character.” i Thrilling Drama The Sunday Times complains of the lack of imagination shown by those who regard this as a dull war-and reminds them that there is being enacted on the sea and in the air round these islands and on ocean routes far ilistant, drama that must thrill everyone who asks himself what it means. “The epic story of the first great sea fight illuminates, as with a flash, the darkened scene on which this great j drama is being enacted,” states the I Sunday Times. ! Extracts from the foreign press j which have reached London show that I the significance of the action is also ' widely appreciated abroad. ! The cordial references in the newspapers of France naturally have given pleasure here. L'Ere Nouvelle- says: “Our friends once again have attained their mastery, their courage, their tactical knowledge and that sea sense which is their second nature.” Skill of Commanders The skill of the British commanders I is the subject of much comment in the ! neutral press. The verdict, which recurs frequently, finds typical expression in the remarks of the St. Louis Post-Despatch: “The bogey of the ‘pocket’ battleship seems to have been deflated.” The same idea recurs in the conclusion reached by the Latvian p«per Segodnia that the British “habit” of naval victory has been revived. New York messages state that the United States reaction to the German short-wave account; of the Graf von Spee battle is one of contemptuous hilarity. Faced with pictures sent by radio of the Graf von Spee showing the damage, Americans are chary of accepting the German assurances that she bears no visible traces of the battle. ' The New York Times, in an ediI torial, comments: “Germany lost another battle when she lied about the Graf von Spee. The discount rate of the official German statements has always been high. A few more like this and it will close at 100 per cent.” 1 . . , .