BLEW UP SHIP

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

BLEW UP SHIP

FOUR SEAMEN ARRESTED 350 ON TACOMA SUPPORT FOR URUGUAY (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received Dec. 19, 1 p.m.) MONTEVIDEO, Dec. 18 The Uruguayan harbour police arrested four of the seamen from the Admiral Graf Spee aboard the Tacoma and charged them with blowing up the ship. The arrested seamen were in a launch when the Admiral Graf Spee exploded. An earlier message stating that all the crew were transferred to an Argentinian gunboat was incorrect. Three hundred and fifty remained on the Tacoma. Eleven American republics have supported Uruguay’s early stand.

URUGUAY’S PROBLEM

PROTEST BY GERMANY TIME LIMIT NOT EXTENDED CONVERSATIONS WITH BRITAIN (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copydgnt/ MONTEVIDEO, Dec. 18 The scuttling of the Admiral Graf Spee appears to have removed the immediate danger of the war encroaching on the American continent, but it has not solved Uruguay’s delicate diplomatic problem. The German Legation has protested strongly against Uruguay’s refusal to extend the time limit and has attached Captain Langsdorff’s letter as part of the protest, which describes the action as “a flagrant violation of international rights and usages.” Simultaneously, Uruguay is engaged in not-too-friendly conversations with Britaih because she did not accede to the British demand that the Admiral Graf Spee’s stay should be limited to 24 hours. Uruguay has sent a Note to Panama suggesting that the panAmerican republics, jointly or individually, protest to Britain and Germany. This Note says the battle took place inside the neutrality zone fixed by the Panama declaration. Brazil and Chile have indicated their readiness to co-operate. Assurance By Republics Before the Admiral Graf Spee sailed diplomatic representatives of the South American republics assured Senor Guani, Uruguayan Foreign Minister, of full support for Uruguay’s actions. An agreement has been reached by representatives of the United States, Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay to issue a joint declaration again fencing in the American republics’ waters from the European War. Other American republics are expected to consent to join in the declaration, which will probably be issued on Tuesday.

SEVEN MEN KILLED

CASUALTIES ON H.M.S. AJAX INJURED MEN RECOVERING (Ofnclal Wireless) (Recevied Dec. 19. 11.30 a.m.) f RUGBY, Dec. 18 The Admiralty, in an announcement regarding the casualties sustained in last Wednesday’s action by H.M.S. Ajax, confirms that seven were killed. The announcement gives the names of two other members of the crew as seriously injured, and adds that 11 others received minor injuries. All the injured men are progressing satisfactorily. CREW OF TAIROA SEVEN MEMBERS SAFE (By Telegraph.—Press Association) WELLINGTON, Monday The Shaw, Savill and Albion Company has received cabled advice from its London office that seven of the Tairoa’s crew are safe in Montevideo. The commander and the remainder are on board an enemy auxiliary. A Montevideo cablegram says the ex-prisoners landed from the Admiral Graf Spee include an Aucklander, Mr A. D. Dickson, of the steamer Tairoa.