SCUTTLING DRAMA

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20133, 30 December 1939, Page 10

SCUTTLING DRAMA

TERRIFIC EXPLOSIONS STORY OF EYE-WITNESS DOOMED SHIP A FURNACE NEW YORK, Doc. 20. An eye-witness’ account of the scuttling of the Graf von Spee is given by Mr. Victor Pomes, correspondent ot the International News. “I was watching through a powerful telescope when there was an explosion so terrific that the windows of my motor car rattled," he says. “Where the Graf Spee had been 1 saw nothing but a cloud of smoke rising above a towering column oi flame. Less than a mile from the battleship were the Tacoma and the Argentine patrol boat Libertad, clearly visible in the eerie light from the blazing Graf Spee. “Five minutes later a second explosion shook the ground under me. Huge smoke billows were split as flames leaped higher toward the sky and blazing oil was spread over the water.

“I cannot find words to describe the sight as the pride of the German Navy was reduced to a red-hot furnace. With the rest of the crowd, I could not believe that I was not dreaming

“We were brought back to reality only when the Tacoma returned to harbour with her decks thronged with sad-faced young Nazi sailors.

“One of the most dramatic moments was when five aeroplanes sped in from the mouth of the Plate and circled over the Spee as she steamed out. I learned later that they were reconnaissance aeroplanes from the British warships outside.’’