AFTER THE EVENT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 19 December 1939, Page 5

AFTER THE EVENT

MUCH DIPLOMATIC TALK GERMANS BAITING URUGUAY. HOPES OF FENCING OFF AMERICAN WATERS. MONTEVIDEO, December 18. The scuttling of the Admiral Graf Spee appears to have removed the immediate danger of the war encroaching on the American continent, but it has not solved Uruguay’s delicate diplomatic problem. The German Legation has protested strongly against Uruguay’s refusal to extend the time limit, attaching Captain Langsdorff’s letter as part of the protest, which describes the action as a “flagrant violation of international rights and usages.” Simultaneously, Uruguay is engaged in not over friendly conversations with Britain because she did not accede to the demand that the Admiral Graf Spee’s stay should be limited to 24 hours. Uruguay recently sent a Note to Panama suggesting that the American States jointly or individually protest to Britain and Germany. Uruguay declares that the battle occurred inside the declared neutrality zone. Brazil and Chile indicated their readiness to co-operate. Agreement was reached among the representatives of the United States, Argentine, Brazil and Uruguay on a joint declaration again fencing off the American Republics’ waters during the European war. The other American States are expected to consent and join the declaration, probably on Tuesday. “INCREDIBLE!” ITALIANS ON GRAF SPEE’S END. IGNOMINIOUS SUICIDE. ROME, December 18. “Incredible!” exclaimed a group of naval men at midnight when they heard the news of the scuttling of the Graf Spee which is regarded as proof that she was more badly damaged than Berlin admitted. Naval authorities consider internment would have been better than to condemn a fine ship to ignominious suicide without a fight. Paying tribute to New Zealand’s participation in the war the Paris journal Excelsior notes that the Achilles was the only combatant to emerge unscathed from the fight against the Graf Spee. “The New Zealanders were determined that their first blow should be a master-stroke,” said the journal. “The British Colonies and Dominions draw closer round the ships of the Allies.”

“NOT UNDERSTOOD*’ EXTREMELY LITTLE BEING SAID IN GERMANY. BERLIN, December 18. Only eleven lines recording the fact that the Graf Spee was blown up by Hitler’s orders appear in the first afternoon newspaper today. The brief radio and News Agency announcements puzzle the Germans who are ignorant of the significance of the event or the worldwide interest taken therein. The fact that Hitler ordered the scuttling is sufficient to convince many Germans that this was the best course. The average feeling is summed up in the remark of one German to a. British United Press correspondent: “I do not understand it, but I suppose it is all right.” The Government authorities refuse to supplement the News Agency s brevity. “Nothing can be said."

BRITISH CASUALTIES The British casualties in the battle with the Graf Spee were 72 killed and 31 wounded, distributed among the ships as follow: Exeter, 5 officers killed, 3 wounded; 56 ratings killed, 20 wounded: Ajax, 7 ratings killed, 5 wounded: Achilles. 4 ratings killed, 3 wounded.