NAVAL ACHIEVEMENT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 16 December 1939, Page 7

NAVAL ACHIEVEMENT

TRIBUTES TO THE BRITISH SHIPS MAGNIFICENT SEAMANSHIP. ADMIRALTY’S DISPOSITIONS PRAISED. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10.8 a.m.) RUGBY, December 15. “’The Times,” recalling that the broadside of the Admiral Graf Spee is in weight of metal half as great again as that of her three assailants put together, says: "So powerful a ship was bound to do damage, and the Exeter Was forced to drop out of the swiftlymoving fight, but not before her guns, the heaviest in the British squadron, had done severe execution. ‘lndeed by the time the Exeter was crippled, the German ship's retreat had already become something like a flight and she was forced to take refuge. with her side breached, her bridge blown away and several guns out of action, in the territorial waters of Uruguay. As notable a discomfiture of a greater by a lesser armament can only be explained in one way —by the outstanding superiority of seamanship and gunnery on board the ships possessing the lighter guns.” In their tributes to the magnificent seamanship shown by the Exeter, Ajax and Achilles, the “Manchester Guardian” and the "Daily Mail” do not overlook the fact that it was due to the tactical dispositions of the Admiralty in dealing with commerce raiders that the Graf Spee was so soon brought to bay. Emphasis is also laid on the fact that if the Graf Spee, which it is believed has already sunk seven merchantmen!, had been permitted to continue to operate at a focal point of ocean commerce traversed by neutral shipping of all nationalities, she might have become ever more menacing than during her predatory career to date. Besides the six shipmasters already mentioned as captured. there were nine chief engineers, 25 officers and 21 men. These have now been released. The British Ministry in Montevideo has been instructed to convey the thanks of the British Government for the prompt action in securing their release.

OPPORTUNITY SEIZED GERMAN MERCHANTMEN IN CARIBBEAN PORTS. SEVERAL PUT OUT TO SEA. NEW YORK. December 14. German merchantmerit taking refuge in the Caribbean Sea are seeking advantage from the preoccupation of British warships. A message from Vera Cruz states that the liner Columbus, after obtaining clearance and shifting her anchorage. put out to sea. The Aranca also left. Valparaiso reports that the Dusseldorf sailed. The Mexico City correspondent of the “New York Times’’ states that, the columbus is carrying 25.000 barrels of oil and is reported to have been supplied with special equipment for refuelling submarines. She also has four-inch guns, which she can mount at sea.

STATE OF GRAF SPEE SAID TO BE NAVIGABLE. BUT INCAPABLE OF FIGHTING. The latest reports from Montevideo, a radio message reports, state that the damage to the Admiral Graf Spec is such that she is navigable, but cannot fight. An examination by naval experts has showed that the Graf Spee's 11-inch guns are out of action because of damage to the fire control tower, but she can put out to sea. Conflicting reports concerning the stay of the Graf Spee in Montevideo harbour are still being received. The Uruguay Government is stated by some to have given no definite decision. but according to the “New York Times” corespondent, the Government has granted permission to repair damage in order to make her seaworthy.

MEETING OF CABINET REGARDING GRAF SPEE’S STATUS. 'Received This Day. 9 a.m.) MONTEVIDEO. December 15. It is reliably stated that Uruguay will announce her decision regarding the Graf Spee's status after a Cabinet meeting this afternoon.