THRILLING STORY

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

THRILLING STORY

MAGNIFICENT TACTICS GERMAN SHIP BATTERED SIX CAPTAINS ABOARD (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received Dec. 15, 1 p.m.) NEW YORK, Dec. 14 The Montevideo correspondent of the American Press says that eyewitnesses of part of the battle declare that the British magnificently used smoke-screens to avoid exposure to the Graf Spee’s heavier guns. It is reported that one of the Graf Spee’s shells struck the Exeter’s turret early in the battle. The British, manoeuvring at high speed behind dense smoke-screens, threw the German off the target, working close enough to enable their smaller guns to come within range of the Graf Spee, whose battered condition attests to British accuracy. A British naval attache announces that the Barham did not participate. The British casualties might equal those of the Germans. Despite the reported damage to the Exeter the Montevideo correspondent of the United Press reports that the Ajax and the Exeter put out to sea early on December 14.

The British Admiralty denies a statement by the German Legation at Montevideo that the Graf Spee’s casualties were mostly caused because the British used mustard gas grenades or shells. No such shells were ever made or used by the Navy.

It is reported from Berlin that an authorised spokesman confirmed that it was the Graf Spee not the Admiral Scheer, which was engaged.

Six British Captains Aboard He claimed that six British sea captains, presumably from British ships sunk by the Graf Spee, were aboard her during the fight. He also claimed that all three British cruisers were sheltering at Montevideo. London sources, however, are still doubtful of the German ship’s identity. It is suspected that one pocket battleship has been changing its name frequently since it escaped from Germany, operating one day as the von Scheer and on another as the Graf Spee. There is no confirmation in London that the British cruisers have put in to Montevideo. Commodore of Division Commodore H. H. Harwood, who commanded the Exeter, Ajax and Achilles, has been Commodore of the South American Division since September, 1936.

LANDING OF WOUNDED

FROM BRITISH WARSHIPS FLEEING RAIDER FOLLOWED RULES COVERING REFUGE (Official Wireless) (Received Dec. 15, 11.30 a.m.) RUGBY, Dec. 14 In connection with the naval engagement, reports from Montevideo state that the wounded men from the British warships, which followed the enemy vessel into the outer harbour, are also being landed. International law permits belligerent warships to take refuge in neutral waters and remain until repairs sufficient to make them seaworthy are effected, after which they must leave subject to 24 hours’ notice.

VERY GALLANT ACTION

MR CHAMBERLAIN’S TRIBUTE DENIAL OF GERMAN LIES FREE OCEAN OF RAIDER (Official Wireless) (Received Dec. 15, 1 p.m.) RUGBY, Dec. 14 In the House of Commons the Prime Minister gave an account of the naval action and repeated a denial that gas shells or grenades had ever been made for or used oy the Royal Navy, declaring that the German statement that the Graf Spee losses were due to mustard gas as “ characteristic ” and without foundation. “ Although details are not yet availab’e,” said Mr Chamberlain, “ I think it is already apparent that a very gallant action has been fought by three comparatively small British ships against a much more heavily armed adversary, the result of which may well be to free the South Atlantic from the depredations of this raider.”

The House would also welcome the news that the same British submarine which reported sighting the Bremen later sank a U-boat and torpedoed an enemy cruiser. GERMAN MERCHANTMEN IN THE CARIBBEAN SEA (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyrijctit) (Received Dec. 15. noon) NEW YORK. Dec. 14 German merchantmen taking refuge in the Caribbean Sea. are seeking to take advantage of the British warships’ preoccupation-

By special arrang-ements Reuter’s World Service, in addition to other special sources of information, is used in the compilation or the overseas intelligence published in this issue, and all rights therein in Australia and New Zealand are reserved. Sucb of the cable news in this issue as is so headed has appeared in the Times and is so sent to this paper by special permission. It should be understood that the opinion is not that of the Times unless it is expressly stated to be so.