NAZI RESENTMENT

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20124, 19 December 1939, Page 5

NAZI RESENTMENT

FORCED TO LEAVE I PROTEST BY CAPTAIN j LONGER TERM WANTED j REPAIRS TO VESSEL j NAVIGATION RISKS (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Reed. Dec. 19, noon.) MONTEVIDEO, Dec. 18. The German Embassy issued a statement by the Commander of the Graf von Spec, Captain Langsdorff, written before the ship sailed out ot Montevideo to be scuttled, protesting against Uruguay’s refusal to "give time to place the ship in proper navigable condition.” ‘‘ln the circumstances, there is nothing for me to do but to sink the ship by blowing her up near the coast and disembarking as many of the crew as possible,’ added Captain Langsdorlf. Captain Langsdorlf s statement re- j vealed that he sought to remain for j 15 days. He stressed that the Uru- j guayan commission was convinced the j engines and armaments were so little i damaged that there was no fear that j her stay would be used to reinforce her limited potentiality and might also have been convinced that repair of tlie damage to the hull was indispensable to put the ship into a condition to resist, the dangers of navigation. Moreover, there was damage to the galley, the functioning of which was indispensable to life on the ship on the high seas. Captain LangsdorfY continued: “The customs officers stopped the shore workmen at (i u.m. on Saturday foi several hours and allowed their resumption only after the intervention of the German Legation. •Ship Not Repaired “The Uruguayan ruling forces mt to abandon Mon.uwuco with a ship that is not repaired in the mannci necessary tor security and navigation. To sally on to the high seas would bcnegligently endangering the crew. I emphasise that I do not refer to the danger of enemy action, but exclusively to tile general dangers of navigation.” Captain Langsdorff concluded by admitting that Uruguayan neutrality was violated in the last hours of the sea battle, but he claimed he was forced to lire on a British cruiser near Lobos Island because the cruise) opened lire on the Graf Spec. It is reported, without confirmation, that Captain Langsdorff telephoned Herr Hitler and was instructed to destroy the ship rather than let the British do so. The Berlin radio announces that the German Government has handed a sharp protest to Uruguay against the “flagrant breach of international law” in failing to allow the Graf von Spee adequate time for repairs.