DRAMATIC SCENES

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20991, 19 December 1939, Page 7

DRAMATIC SCENES

EXPLOSIONS AT INTERVALS BURNED FOR OVER HOUR FLAMES HIGH INTO AIR (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) MONTEVIDEO, Dec. 17 A pall of smoke drifting across th: waters of the River Plate to-night hid from half a million watchers gathered along the Uruguayan waterfront the last scene in the ignominious end of the Admiral Graf Spee—blown up by her captain to avoid internment or a last fight in the open sea against tremendous odds. When she took the water at Wilhelmshaven five and a-half years ago, and was given the naiiie of the victor of Coronel—who himself died bravely in battle off the Falklands—Grand Admiral Raeder spoke of Count Spee and Coronel where, he said, “the British Admiral Cradock, as a brave seaman, loyal to the great traditions of his navy, went down fighting to the last.” To-night, Count Spee’s namesake went down—in less than 30ft. of water, close to Uruguayan territorial limits, her hull riven by the explosion of her magazines fired by her commander’s own hand, while British warships waited beyond in the open sea. She burned for over an hour, and explosions continued at intervals until at 9.15 a heavier blast sent coloured rockets and balls of flame high into the air. Like a dying candle, the ship burst into a last bright flame, and the smoke and the dark blotted her out. At 7.55 p.m. there was a terrific explosion, and a great flame shot up from the vessel’s funnel. The blast smashed the control tower and sprayed the ship with oil, which began to blaze furiously. A few minutes later another heavy concussion shook the ship, destroying the after turret, and, with water rushing into her through gaping holes and smoke pouring from her sides and turrets, she settled down quickly. In three minutes she was on the bottom, on an even keel, with the upper structure still showing. British Vessels at Scene The British cruiser Cumberland and an unidentified destroyer approached at full speed. The Cumberland’s searchlights were playing on the pall of smoke. Harbour craft began blowing sirens and the public rushed to better vantage points. When the tide ebbed late to-night it revealed the wreckage almost, broken in two. Parts of the bow and superstructure were showing. Sections of the bow were warped by the heat of the explosions and fires, but the guns, turrets and funne! were s'.iil in position.