RIVER PLATE BATTLE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 5 January 1940, Page 5

RIVER PLATE BATTLE

MORE DETAILS OF FAMOUS SEAFIGHT THE GRAF SPEE’S RETREAT. CONDUCT OF NEW ZEALANDERS PRAISED. Further details of the engagement with the Admiral Graf Spee have been revealed following the visits by H.M.S. Ajax and the IT.MS. Achilles to Montevideo and Buenos Aires, a Daventry message states. Captain Parry, commander of the Achilles, in expressing appreciation of the warm welcome extended to the ship and its crew, paid a tribute to the skill of Admiral Sir Henry Harwood, commander of the Exeter, who directed the engagement. The three points of note in RearAdmiral Harwood’s course of action were the concentration of the three ships at the right time and place, his courageous tactics when the Graf Spec was sighted, and his clear orders. Captain Parry added that the Achilles had joined the squadron only two days before the action, and had not previously worked with the other warships. “Admiral Harwood’s orders were so unmistakable, that I knew exactly what to do,” said Captain Parry. He also paid a tribute to the magnificent conduct and fighting spirit of the New Zealanders in his crew. The damage to the Achilles was very small. There were no direct hits, and the casualties were caused by shell splinters. PREARRANGED PLAN. When Rear-Admiral Harwood went ashore at Montevideo, he revealed that the three ships attacked according to a prearranged plan. The Exeter was on one flank and the Ajax and the Achilles on the other. The Exeter was hit early in the engagement. “We must have damaged the Graf Spee seriously,” said Rear-Admiral Harwood, “as after 16 minutes she put a smoke screen and made off for the River Plate at full speed.” Sir Henry told how, with the Exeter dropping astern, the Ajax and the Achilles closed in to within four 'miles of the Graf Spee and frequently hit her as she zig-zagged and continued to throw out a smoke screen. Fires were seen to ‘break out on the Graf Spee. After 80 minutes the British warships broke action and drew off to a range from where they could shadow the Graf Spee. When she finally entered Montevideo it was nearly evening. The Graf Spee suddenly turned and fired three salvos at the-Achilles, but no hits were registered. Twenty minutes later, as darkness was setting in, she fired another three salvos, but again failed to register any hits.

“When the Admiral Graf Spee anchored in Montevideo, we took up position, and waited with the Cumberland for her to come out.” said Sir Henry. ‘We were ready to continue the fight, and the damage to our ships was repaired at sea while we were waiting.” TRIBUTE TO GERMANS GRAF SPEE WELL HANDLED. MONTEVIDEO, January 4. Rear-Admiral Harwood and other officers of the Ajax in Montevideo commended Captain Langsdorfl’s handling of the Admiral Graf Spee and the seamanship of the German sailors. Most of the officers agreed that the pocket-battleship was an effective fighting unit, but not as dangerous as had been expected. The Ajax bore evidence of hits from the Graf Spee’s guns. One shell completely demolished Rear-Admiral Harwood’s cabin and his personal belongings. He was dressed in borrowed clothes when he came ashore. Sir Henry denied that nine Allied warships were in the Plate estuary when the Graf Spee departed from Montevideo. Only the Cumberland had joined the Achilles and Ajax. GAY HOLIDAY FOR MEN OF ACHILLES AND AJAX. MEETING WITH GRAF SPEE MEN. BUENOS AIRES, January 4. While the crews of H.M.S. Achilles and Ajax are enjoying their liberty here and at Montevideo Captain Parry, commander of the Achilles, told a representative of the “New York Times’ that the battle was won against an enemy superior in every way except speed only, because of brilliant plans made on the day previously. Rear-Admiral Harwood said that, the Admiral Graf Spee fled after the first 16 minutes of fighting, and the battle thereafter was a running one. Captain Parry was wounded by shell splinters in the legs, but the ship was only slightly hit. He praised the Achilles’ look-outs, who were rewarded with a sovereign apiece for the first sight of the enemy. He added that the battle was mostly 200 miles off-shore.

The celebrations of the Achilles and Ajax here and at Montevideo are gay. The Associated Press represenitalive reports that members of the personnel of the Achilles met member of the crew of the Graf Spee in a night club and exchanged toasts. They assured one another of unpersonal enmity.