ADMIRALTY REPORT

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

ADMIRALTY REPORT

NO CASUALTY LIST AWAITING THE GRAF SPEE BRITISH REINFORCEMENTS (Official Wireless) (Received Dec. 15, 1 p.m.) RUGBY, Dec. 14 The Admiralty this evening issued the following communique:— “No reports have been received of the killed and wounded in the British ships which took part in the sharp action yesterday off Montevideo. These will be published at the earliest moment.

“In spite of the damage which caused the Exeter to drop out of the engagement the two small six-inch gun cruisers pursued the German pocket battleship into Plate River and now await her in the estuary, where they have been strongly reinforced.

“It must be understood that very large forces have been employed for many weeks in searching the vast spaces of the South Atlantic, both by sea and air, and much time and many disappointments were inevitable before the raider could be found.

“It is remarkable how little hindrance the Graf Spee has been able to inflict upon the movements of the hundreds of ships through these waters during the two months she has been at large. Compared with the mischief wrought by the Emden in the last war her depredations have been petty. “As soon as details of the action have been received the Admiralty will publish a further statement dealing with the conduct of the officers and men who, under the command of Commodore Harwood, encountered and chased from the sea a vessel so much superior in weight of metal.” Comparison of Broadsides In this connection it is interesting to note that a pocket battleship with six eleven-inch guns, firing projectiles of 7161bs each, and four 5.9-inch guns, firing projectiles of 1031bs each, has a broadside of 47081b5. The combined broadsides of the three British cruisers which engaged the Graf Spee were 31261b5. The Exeter, with six eight-inch guns, firing projectiles of 2561 b each, has a broadside of 1536^bs. It is pointed out in naval circles in London that the provisions of articles 14 and 17 of the Hague Convention of 1907, which contain the rules relating to repair in neutral ports of belligerent warships, do not distinguish between damage sustained in action and damage due to other causes.

There is substantial support for the view that an extension of stay or the use of shore facilities to repair damage due to enemy action should not be allowed, and a number of neutral Governments has issued express regulations denying the use of shore facilities or any extension of permitted stay beyond 24 hours if the damage is due to enemy action. ARMAMENTS ON ACHILLES FASTER THAN GERMAN The British cruisers Achilles and Ajax are both of the same class and are armed with eight 6in. guns, eight 4in. anti-aircraft guns, four three-pounders and 18 smaller guns. The Exeter’s armament consists of six Bin. guns, eight 4in. anti-aircraft guns, four three-pounders and 14 smaller guns. She is of 8390 tons, the Achilles of 7030 tons and the Ajax of 6985 tons. Although none, therefore, has the heaviness in armament of the Admiral Graf Spee, of 10,000 tons displacement, which mounts eight llin. guns, eight 5.9in., six 4.lin. antiaircraft, eight three-pounder antiaircraft and 10 machine-guns, all are faster. The authoritative “Jane’s Fighting Ships” credits the German “pocket” battleship with 26 knots, which no doubt would be exceeded a little in emergency, whereas the Exeter was designed for 32 knots and the Achilles and Ajax for 32£ knots.