GERMAN CLAIM

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

GERMAN CLAIM

“A GREAT VICTORY” BREAKING OF BLOCKADE HEAVY LOSSES ALLEGED (Omelal Wireless) (Received Dec. 15, 1 p.m.) RUGBY, Dec. 14 The German official news agency in Berlin has released a despatch, ostensibly from Buenos Aires, saying. “The news of the successful naval engagement of a German warship with several British cruisers has made an enormous impression. It was not thought possible that a German warship could break the British blockade and appear on this side of the Atlantic, which is dominated by the British Navy.

“The only British reports of the engagement so far available obviously are aimed at minimising the British losses, but it has been established that the German warship caused heavy losses and damage to the British cruisers, forcing part of them to fall out of action and seek safety at Montevideo.

“This German naval victory is regarded as important, because it proves that the German Navy is able to hold its own, even in the most remote zone, against a force far superior in numbers.

“All reports confirm that the British used mustard gas, thus spoiling the German vessel’s food. That was the reason that the German warship also anchored at Montevideo.” Shameless Claims According to the official Berlin News Agency the latest Montevideo despatches state that the Graf Spee shows no signs of damage, and life aboard is normal. Other German reports continue shamelessly to claim complete victory. Thus the semi-official Deutscher Dienst says the Ajax fled and the Exeter was shelled to pieces, while other reports claim that the Achilles was sunk. The Berlin radio, on the other hand, admits that the Graf Spee was hit several times, but put the Exeter out of action and heavily damaged one other cruiser.