RENOWN ON HER WAY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 18 December 1939, Page 7

RENOWN ON HER WAY

The Rome wireless announced that the Admiral Scheer and several submarines were speeding to the assistance of the Admiral Graf Spee. A French battleship is joining the British warships. Rio de Janeiro reports that it is officially stated that the British battle-cruiser Renown asked permission to enter harbour. If the secrecy shrouding the Uruguayan Foreign Office could be'penetrated, it would probably reveal a battle as thrilling diplomatically as that of last Wednesday was militarily. While Britain and France are reported to have continued to strengthen their forces at the mouth of the Rio de la Plata, the Admiral Graf Spee’s crew have feverishly continued repairs. The tension heightened this afternoon when her bow swung to seaward. Meanwhile South America’s Foreign Affairs Ministers were equally busy trying to prepare against the situation that Uruguay was facing as the result of the Admiral Graf Spee’s entry. The busiest has been the Uruguayan Foreign Minister, who has been divided between a delicate diplomatic situation with Britain and discussions concerning joint action to protect South American neutrality.

NAZI MINISTER AGITATED

Throughout yesterday Senor Guani was under the strongest pressure from both Britain and Germany. The German Minister called at midday and at 5 p.m., leaving at 7.45 p.m. grim-faced and agitated. The British Minister left! at 9 p.m. more cheerful than previously. He told newspaper men that the time expires at 6 p.m., not 8 p.m. The German Embassy is declining to accept the time limit and is insisting on unlimited extension on the ground that it is impossible to complete repairs. The impression in Uruguayan circles is that’ the Germans are playing for time and are more interested in awaiting favourable circumstances to escape rather than in making repairs. At 1 a.m. Senor Guani said that the negotiations would be suspended till 8 a.m. on Sunday. During the day the Admiral Graf Spee’s commander. Captain Hans Langsdorfl. high Italian and German diplomats and Rear-Admiral Rente, of Uruguay, who is of German descent and German-educated, conferred at the German Legation, suggesting that the Admiral Graf Spee might try to seek refuge again at an Argentine port, thus giving a further 24 hours’ delay enabling the arrival of the reported reinforcements. Hundreds of sailors worked on the Admiral Graf Spee’s decks. Shell holes on the starboard quarter were plugged inside. The jagged edges of a huge hole on the port side of the bow were smoothed and boarded with heavy planks. An anti-aircraft gun tow? 6 which was torn from its base has been replaced and the damaged aeroplanes discharged ashore. The pumps are working constantly. Work continued till 10.30 p.m.. when lights were extinguished. Anticipating a sequel to last Wednesday thousands of Uruguayans arc spending the weekend at the coast and six New York business men are seeking the State Department’s approval to hire an aeroplane at a cost of 5000 dollars each to fly to Uruguay to watch the battle. The Admiral 'Graf Spee is loading a large number of welding tanks, heavy plates, etc.

GERMAN CAPTAIN’S STORY The Admiral Graf Spee’s commander told the Port Authorities that shortage of fuel and the British cruisers’ herding factics “placed him between the devil and the deep blue sea,” reports the Montevideo correspondent of the Associated Press of America. Captain. Langsdorfl' added that when he sighted the Exeter at 6 a.m. off Brazil, the Admiral Graf Spee’s fuel was almost exhausted because he had been unable to contact the supply ship Tacoma. So he headed south. Off Uruguay he encountered the Achilles and Ajax, which manoeuvred, keeping the Admiral Graf Spee between them and the shore. Captain Langsdorfl’ was afraid of risking shallow water to starboard and was without, sufficient fuel for a run to sea for a freer combat position, so he opened fire on the Exeter. In the lively exchange which followed the Exeter was damaged severely

before the Ajax and Achilles could get into action. It was the latter’s six-inch guns, however, that really rocked the Admiral Graf Spee. Captain Langsdorff praised the British marksmanship and said enormous damage was inflicted by powerful shells which exploded after piercing the Admiral Graf Spee’s armour. He added that with the ship holed, many dead, and his attempts to manoeuvre frustrated, he was forced to run for port. A sailor from the Admiral Graf Spee who is in hospital, stated that Captain Langsdorff at the height of the battle, took the wheel himself and steered so skilfully that the ship avoided seventeen torpedoes.

THE BRITISH CRUISERS

H.M.S. Exeter is proceeding to ths Argentine naval base at Puerto Belgrano, where there is a dry dock, for repairs. The Achilles and the Ajax are reported to have been reinforced by several heavy cruisers, and arc maintaining a vigil in the estuary of the River Plate. The crews are being kept at battle stations and are taking no chances of the Admiral Graf Spee trying to escape.