BRITISH SUPERIORITY

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20989, 16 December 1939, Page 7

BRITISH SUPERIORITY

GUNNERY AND SEAMANSHIP FLIGHT OF GERMAN RAIDER REMOVAL OF MENACE (Omcial wireless) (Received Dec. 16, 11 a.m.) RUGBY, Dec. 15 The Times, recalling that the broadside of the German battleship, Admiral Graf Spee is in weight of metal half as great again as that of her three British assailants put together, says: “So powerful a ship was bound 1o do damage and H.M.S. Exeter was forced to drop out of the swiftlymoving fight, but not before her guns, the heaviest in the British squadron, had done severe execution.

“Indeed, by the time the Exeter was crippled the German ship’s retreat had already become something like a flight, and she was forced to take refuge with her side breached, her bridge blown away, and several guns out of action in the territorial waters of Uruguay. “As notable a discomfiture of a greater by a lesser armament can only be explained in one way—by the outstanding superiority of the seamanship and gunnery on board the ships possessing the lighter guns.-’ Magnificent Seamanship

In their tributes to the magnificent seamanship shown by H.M.S. Exeter, H.M.S. Ajax and H.M.S. Achilles, the Manchester Guardian and the Daily Mail do not overlook the fact that it was due to the tactical disposition of the Admiralty in dealing with commerce raiders that the Admiral Graf Spee was so soon brought to bay. Emphasis is also laid on the fact that if the Admiral Graf Spee, which is believed had already sunk seven merchantmen, had been permitted to continue to operate at the focal point of the ocean commerce traversed by the neutral shipping of all nationalities, she might have become even more menacing than during her predatory career to date. Besides the six ships’ masters already mentioned as captured there were nine chief engineers, 25 officers and 21 men. These have been released. The British Minister at Montevideo has been instructed to convey the thanks of the British government for the prompt action in securing their release. Very Gallant Action The Prime Minister’s tribute to the very gallant action fought by the three comparatively small British ships against a much more heavilyarmed adversary is warmly endorsed in the press. “The running fight in which unarmoured and outgunned cruisers compelled a German battleship to seek inglorious refuge in a neutral port Will,” says the Daily Telegraph, “rank with the most splendid exploits of frigates against threedeckers in the brave days of old.” ADMIRATION FELT GOVERNMENT’S PRIDE (By Telegraph. —l ress Association) WELLINGTON, Friday The Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage, said he would like to express on behalf of the Government the admiration of New Zealanders, and to offer the heartiest congratulations to Captain Parry and the complement of the Achillea. The High Commissioner at Geneva had # received a very large number of expressions of gratitude and admiration, in which New Zealanders in the United Kingdom joined, for the courageous feats of the officers and ratings of the Achilles. The British Consulate was transferred yesterday from Helsinki to Fori-Bjorneberg.