RAIDER’S END

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20132, 29 December 1939, Page 7

RAIDER’S END

GRAF SPEE FIGHT BRITISH ATTACK GERMAN SAILOR’S STORY ESCAPE FROM DEATH MONTEVIDEO, Dec. 20. A thrilling story of what happened in the Graf von Spee was related by a wounded German sailor in hospital. He was quarter-master in charge of operations. He was propped up in bed as he told his story. Both his eyes were bandaged and he had lost the sight of one. He was also suffering from severe body burns. “The battle started at dawn, 10 minutes after we sighted each other,” said the sailor. “The exchange of cannon shots roared almost steadily. “At my post, where I handled all communications, the noise of exploding shells frequently drowned telephone orders. AH Comrades Killed “My comrades and I were in the best of humours, singing old German naval songs. Suddenly a shell landed with a terrific inpact, putting out all the lights in my section. “I had just telephoned asking for their restoration when another shell exploded on the side whei’e we were standing. I recovered from my first daze to find that all my comrades had oeen killed by shell fragments. “I thought I was dying too, but a sharp pain proved that I was still alive. I crawled on my hands and knees to the infirmary, where I was given first aid. Valiant Fight by the Ajax “I know that one British cruiser was put out of commission shortly after the fight began, but I am not sure which. We clearly saw it struck by two shells. A short time later it stopped firing and left the scene. One continued the fight, but its action was not very heavy.

“The third cruiser, which must have been the Ajax, fought valiantly until the end. It then laid down a smoke screen and disappeared.”