BATTLE AT ODDS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 December 1939, Page 8

BATTLE AT ODDS

BRITISH CRUISERS & GRAF SPEE SPLENDID WORK BY SMALL SHIPS. COMPARISON OF EROADSIDES. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 11.43 a.m.) RUGBY. December 14. The Admiralty this evening issued ihe following communique: “No reports have been received of the killed and wounded in the British ships which took part in the sharp action yesterday off Montevideo. These will be published nt the earliest moment. In spite of the damage which caused the Exeter to drop out of ihe engagement. Iwo small six-inch gun cruisers pursued the German poc-ket-bat lieship into the Plate River and now await her in the estuary, where they have been strongly reinforced. It must be understood that very large forces have been employed for many weeks in searching the vast spaces of the South Atlantic, both by sea and air. and much time and many disappointments were inevitable before the raider could be found. It is remarkable how little hindrance the Graf Spce has been able to inflict upon the movements of hundreds of ships through these waters during the two months in which she has been at largo. Compared with the mischief wrought by the Emden, her depredations have been petty. As soon as details of the action have been received the Admiralty will publish a further statement dealing with the conduct of the officers and men who, under the command of Commodore Harwood, encountered and chased from the sea a vessel so much superior in weight of metal.

In this connection it is interesting tb note that the pocket-battleship, with six eleven-inch guns, firing projectiles of 7161bs each and four 5.9inch guns, firing projectiles of 1031bs each, has a broadside of 4.7081b5. The combined broadsides of the three British cruisers which engaged the Graf Spec total 3,1361b5. The Exeter, with six eight-inch guns, firing projectiles of 2561bs each, has a broadside of 15361b5. It is pointed out in naval circles in London that the provisions of Articles 14 and 17 of the Hague Convention, 1907, which contain rules relating to the repair in neutral ports of belligerent warships, do not distinguish between damage sustained in action and damage due to other causes. There is substantial support for the view that an extension of stay or the use-of shore facilities to repair damage due to enemy action should not be allowed, and a number of neutral governments have issued express regulations denying the use of shore facilities or any extension of the permitted stay beyond twenty-four hours if damage is due to enemy action.

DETAILS OF DAMAGE POCKET-BATTLESHIP BADLY KNOCKED ABOUT. FIGHTING TOWER PIERCED TWICE. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received This Day, 11.40 a.m.) MONTEVIDEO, December 14. An inspection of the Graf Spee reveals that two shells pierced her fighting tower, entering on the port side and emerging on the starboard. Two sections of forward starboard armoured plate were smashed. There were five impacts, apparently from small shells, on the port side of the waterline. The tail part of the fuselage of an aeroplane w-.s shot off. The extent of the interior damage cannot be ascertained. NAZI BROADCAST -■‘THIS GERMAN VICTORY.” GAS SHELLS FALSEHOOD REPEATED. (Received This Day, 11.40 a.m.) LONDON. December 14. The German Official News Agency in Berlin has released a despatch, ostensibly from Buenos Aires, saying that:— "News of the successful naval engagement of a German warship with several British cruisers has made an enormous impression. It was not thought possible that a German warship could break the British blockade and appear on this side of the Atlantic. which is dominated by the British Navy. Only British reports of the engagement are so far available. They obviously are aimed at minimising British losses but it is established that the German warship caused heavy Josses and damage to the British cruisers, forcing part of them to fall out of the action and seek safely in Montevideo.

".This German naval victory is regarded as important, because it proves that the German Navy is able to hold its own in even the most remote zone against a force' far superior in numbers. All reports confirm that the British used mustard gas, thus spoiling the German vessel’s food. That was the reason the German warship also anchored at Montevideo.” THE NAVY’S GRIP WILL NOT BE RELAXED. LORD CHATFIELD'S ASSURANCE i Received This Day. 1140 a.m.) LONDON, December 14. The Minister for the Coordination of Defence, Admiral of the Fleet Lord Chatfield, replying in the House of Lords to Lord Strabolgi, who alleged that the Admiralty was withholding information, said: “I have no doubt that the Admiral Graf Spee will soon go to sea again—for a short time. I We have been hunting for the Admiral Graf Spee for some time. You can be assured that any. ship that not into touch with the German is not going to lose her, even if it meant going to the bottom. That is the spirit animating the Navy. I am not able at present to give details of the torpedoed German cruiser.” Lord Chatfield added that there was an international problem regarding the Admiral. Graf Spee. At present the matter was under active consideration between England and Uruguay. '

MEN OF THE ACHILLES

NEW ZEALAND MESSAGE OF CONGRATULATION. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. The Governor-General has sent the following message to the Secretary of Stale for the Dominons, in connection with the naval battle off the Rio de la Plate: —“Kindly ask the Admiralty to convey to Captain Parry and all ranks and ratings of the Achilles the most cordial congratulations of the Government and people of New Zealand on the heroic part which they played in the defeat of the Admiral Graf Von Spee. The bravery and tenacity, which they displayed in fighting a ship armed with heavier guns, are tyorlhy of the highest tradi- | tions of the British Navy." I NEW ZEALANDERS ABOARD i i THREE-FIFTHS OF CREW. WELLINGTON, This Day. New Zealanders on the Achilles are Lieut. R. E. Washbourn, Sub-Lieuten-ants E. P. Chapman and H. V. 13. Williams, Surgeon-Lieutenants C. G. Hunters and C. A. Pittar and Gunner G. R. Davis-Goff. Of the 547 men on board. 321 are Now Zealand ratings. Up to noon today the Navy Department had no official news of the engagement, or whether the Achilles had suffered any damage or casualtier..