H.M.S. ACHILLES IN ACTION

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20988, 15 December 1939, Page 7

H.M.S. ACHILLES IN ACTION

NAVAL ENGAGEMENT IN ATLANTIC HEAVY FIGHTING H.M.S. EXETER DAMAGED ATTACK ON' GERMAN BATTLESHIP GRAF SPEE (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, Dec. 14 The Admiralty announces: “The British cruisers Exeter, Ajax and Achilles, under the command of Commodore H. H. Harwood, captain of the Exeter, made contact with the German 10,000-ton battleship Admiral Scheer at 6 a.m. to-day in the South Atlantic.” (It was later found that the German ship was the Admiral Graf Spee, sister-ship of the Admiral Scheer.) “A heavy running fight occurred between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m., at which time the Exeter, receiving damage reducing her speed, was forced to drop out of the action. “The Ajax and the Achilles continued the chase of the enemy ship, which was repeatedly hit, and appeared to he seeking refuge in the River Plate. The pursuit is continuing.” The Montevideo correspondent of the American United Press says the German ship anchored in the Montevideo outer harbour shortly before midnight. The battleship had steamed along the coast after the battle ended, playing her searchlights on the beaches, as her officers were not familiar with the harbour entrance. The correspondent adds that three British cruisers almost immediately followed the German vessel into the harbour. The Admiral Graf Spee disembarked 36 dead and 60 wounded, while a few miles away watchfully lay the British cruisers which had defeated her in an 18-hours’ running battle—the biggest and most dramatic engagement of the war. A silent, awed crowd jammed the waterfront to watch the casualties being taken ashore. The vanquished German ship has three gaping holes in her hull, superstructure and forecastle, as well as other scars. Her commander is slightly injured and one of her officers is dead. The damage done to the Admiral Graf Spee is such that she will be unable to depart immediately. It is indicated that she will be given time for repairs before internment proceedings are instituted.

OPENED FIRE

CRUISERS TO THE RESCUE FOUGHT FOR FOUR HOURS DRAMATIC AND PICTURESQUE (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) NEW YORK, Dec. 14 The Ajax was convoying the French liner Formosa from Rio de Janeiro to Montevideo when the Admiral Graf Spee opened fire upon her, says the Montevideo correspondent of the New York Times. A wireless message from the Ajax brought the Exeter and the Achilles foaming into action, while the Formosa hurried to safety. During the first intense action the Admiral Graf Spee tried in vain to out-run and out-manoeuvre the; British cruisers, while the firing continued for four hours. The Exeter’s guns inflicted the first heavy damage upon the enemy, while the lighter British ships maintained contact fearlessly and effectively. Thereupon, the German ship, now leading the chase southward, devoted all her attention to the Exeter, whose steering gear was damaged, forcing her to quit the battle, but during the latter engagement the Admiral Graf Spee was so badly crippled that she made full speed for the coast. Dogged Pursuit by Achilles The Ajax and Achilles doggedly pursued the German ship. When off Punta del Este the British cruisers swiftly steamed to the westward, taking advantage of the setting sun to get the Admiral Graf Spee silhouetted against the reflection in the eastern sky, while they- themselves were protected by the shadow of the land. This forced the German to change her course subjecting her to heavy fire. Thus night fell with guns blazing—a dramatic and picturesque sight for the many watchers on shore. Finally the Admiral Graf Spee managed to reach the entrance to the River Plate and the British cruisers ceased firing.

PROTEST POSSIBLE

SAFETY ZONE VIOLATED ATTITUDE OF UNITED STATES (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received Dec. 15, 1 p.m.) WASHINGTON, Dec. 14 Mr Cordell Hull indicated that the Western hemisphere countries may consult and possibly protest to Britain and Germany against the violation of the safety zone. He added that he had been authoritatively informed that the Graf Spee would be permitted to remain at Montevideo for 45 hours, or longer if necessary, to effect repairs.

A RUNNING STORY

TAKEN “ROUND BY ROUND” AJAX OPENED FIGHT HEAVY GUNFIRE REPORTED fruited Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) NEW YORK, Dec. 14 The lightship at Punta del Este, at the mouth of the River Plate, 70 miles east of Montevideo, radioed details of the naval engagement, says the Montevideo correspondent of the Associated Press. South Americans heard a running story, broadcast like a round-by-round prize fight. It was not known when the ships made contact. Punta del Este reported the German ship at 4 p.m. (8 p.m., Greenwich time) with “a battleship, believed to be H.M.S. Barham, following.” How the Barham was identified was not explained, but it is thought the mistake was due to the similarity of the profile of the Barham to that of the Achilles and Ajax. An Uruguayan port official sighted two British warships 20 miles astern of the German vessel at 8 p.m. The Punta del Este lightship then reported that the ships had disappeared, but 20 detonations were heard, lasting 10 minutes. At 8.15 p.m. the ships were nine miles off Punta Ballenas, heading south-west, and there was further gunfire. It was thought the German was attempting to escape into a neutral Uruguayan port. At 8.45 p.m. there was further heavy gunfire. The Ajax is reported to have opened the fight. The Achilles was near by. off Piriapolis. on the north shore of the River Plate entrance, some 50 miles east of Montevideo, defending a French liner. Twelve shots were heard at Punta del Este in the first engagement, and when the firing ceased a pall of smoke blotted the German ship from view. The Ajax was seen steaming to the west toward the River Plate. The Uruguayan gunboat Uruguay was on : neutrality patrol eight miles away.

BRITISH CRUISER

IN URUGUAYAN WATERS FUNERAL OF THE VICTIMS (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copy rig-nil (Received Dec. 15, 1 p.m.) NEW YORK, Dec. 14 The Montevideo correspondent of the United Press says the British cruiser Cumberland has arrived in Uruguayan waters.

The Exeter's commander has requested permissio nto land 100 men to attend the funeral of the Graf j Spee's dead-