PRISONERS SET FREE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 16 December 1939, Page 7

PRISONERS SET FREE

I NINE STEAMERS SUNK j BV RAIDER ! TAIROA'S MEN TELL STORY OF ACTION. ‘ HITS FROM BRITISH GUNS , COUNTED. MONTEVIDEO. December 15. The British Consulate-General announces that the Admiral Graf spee's victims as a raider were the I Clement, Newton Beach, Ashlea. Huntsman. Trevanion. Africa Shell, Doric Star. Tairoa, and Streonshalh. The Africa Shell was sunk off the east coast of Africa and the remainder in the South Atlantic. Members of the crew of the Tairoa are among the 62 British seamen landed here from the Admiral Graf Spee. A vivid account is given of the prisoners' experience during the battle. Before they were freed the prisoners from the nine merchantmen were foiced to sign a pledge to remain ashore for the rest of the war on penalty of death if recaptured. Lean and unshaven, they carried shapeless bags holding their scanty belongings. Some were clinging to lifebelts salvaged from their old ships. Their ages ranged from 72 to boys apparently under 15. All showed the effects of a terrible day spent in close confinement in the bowels of the Admiral Graf Spee while the British shells pounded the ship, but they cheered and laughed as shells landed on the battleship. At the Consulate the prisoners described how they counted the hits by the British guns and cheered for the attacking cruisers, though they realised they were doomed if the Admiral Graf Spee sank, because the doors of their steel cells were barred when the action began.

Their worst experience in the battle occurred when a shell struck their prison, but there were no casualties. An officer from one of the captured ships said: “Our confinement area was directly under an 11 -inch gun turret, and every time a shot was fired it seemed as if the whole roof had collapsed. The grandest news ever was when an officer came down and said: 'Gentlemen, the war is over for you. We have just entered Montevideo Harbour.’ ”

The narrator added that most of the Germans were young. "I don’t think they ever considered the possibility of having tc fight another warship, but they seemed to think their only job was sinking freighters.” he said. "That, probably, was one reason why the light cruisers were able to force the Admiral Graf Spee to yield.” A GALLANT FIGHT. Captain Patrick Dove, of the Africa Shell, said the Admiral Graf Spee’s commander called him to the bridge before the prisoners were released and told him that the cruisers had made a gallant fight. "When people fight like that personal enmity is lost.” the first officer observed. "Those British are hard." Another officer remarked, "You fellows have been our prisoners for a long time. It now looks like our turn.” Prisoners disclosed that the Admiral Graf Spee left Germany before the outbreak of war. and. after sinking the Clement, off Brazil on October 2 ranged over the South Atlantic from South America to Africa. She confiscated ships' provisions before sinking them, and either took the crews prisoner or set them adrift in lifeboats. The prisoners said they were well treated and some commented that the Germans were good sailors and friendly. although more willing to seize merchantmen than risk a fight with British or French warships. The prisoners were frequently allowed on deck. The 62 were kept in a single room without distinction between officers and men, but there was no particular discomfort and the food was adequate. The Admiral Graf Spee's commander and'the German naval attache in Montevideo. both in full-dress uniform, surrendered the men to the Uruguayan officials in the Naval Prefecture. The men were later turned over to the British Legation. The captains were identified as Messrs Brown, Pottinger, Edwards, Stubbs and Dore, of the Huntsman, Ashlea, Trevanion. Doric Star and Africa Shell respectively.

LOST TAIROA WELL-KNOWN NEW ZEALAND TRADER. The Tairoa, which was sunk in the South Atlantic by the Admiral Graf Spee. was a well-known trader to New Zealand and South Africa, under the house-flag of Shaw, Savill and Albion Co, Ltd. A cargo steamer of 7983 tons gross register, she was built at New-castle-on-Tyne, in 1920. The Tairoa. which was commanded by Captain W. B. Starr, who has been associated with the New Zealand trade for many years, recently loaded a full cargo of meat. wool. etc., in Australian ports for London.