SCUTTLING OF GRAF SPEE

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20991, 19 December 1939, Page 6

SCUTTLING OF GRAF SPEE

By scuttling the pocket battleship Graf Spee, Germany has put an ignominious end, as far as she is concerned, to the most exciting naval encounter of the war to date. Where is the German official claim to a notable victory ? The scuttling of the ship was indeed the most abject possible admission of defeat. It cannot be denied that the Germans fought bravely, but in the end they had to choose among the alternatives of submitting to internment, attempting to fight their way to the open sea or taking the course they eventually decided on. It is a matter for wonder that they did not choose internment; that would scarcely have been a less severe blow to their pride than sinking .their own ship in acknowledgment of defeat. German allegations that the Admiral Scheer and attendant submarines were hurrying to the River Plate to rescue the Graf Spee were possibly only “bluff,” or perhaps the Germans changed their minds and were not willing to disclose the whereabouts of the other pocket battleship or risk tne destruction of all the ships concerned. Again it is possible that the damage to the Graf Spee was so severe that the risk of attempting any further desperate exploit was not worth while. Germany attempted to convey the impression that the battleship suffered no visible damage, but the German commander himself admitted his ship had suffered very severely. The eventual destruction of the Graf Spee was almost certain, for Germany was very anxious that this new and powerful type of warship should not fall into enemy hands. The pocket battleship has been so publicised as a terrible and invincible weapon that there would be no desire that the secrets of her construction and design should be known to Britain. It is, of course, probable that Britain already knows all or most of those secrets, but Germany would not be likely to takb the risk. The Battle of the River Plate has, in fact, gone a long way towards exploding the reputation of the pocket battleship. The smaller and more lightly armed British cruisers were not afraid of her, and indeed proved their superior striking power, even allowing for the fact that they were three to one.