BATTLE OF THE RIVER PLATE

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28234, 23 March 1957, Page 3

BATTLE OF THE RIVER PLATE

Graf Spee. By Michael Powell. Hodder and Stoughton. 224

pp. When directing the film of the battle of the River Plate Michael Powell began, as he says, to realise that he had a unique opportunity to write a book about the battle He had spoken with the principals who were still alive, he had visited the scene and perused the naval and diplomatic records So he took his opportunity, and it is well that he did. for he has left a notable record of this fine episode in the history of the Royal Navy. In his reconstruction of the battle and the circumstances leading up to it Mr Jfowell has

stuck to the facts (except perhaps for too much “build-up” for Langsdorff). and as he deftly moves the scene from German to British warship, to the diplomatic manoeuvring ashore and back to the thundering guns at sea he creates a stirring dramatic record of this extraordinary battle on which the attention of the whole world was riveted in December 1939 Let no-one be deterred by having read previous accounts of the battle of the River Plate. This is an accurate, well written and absorbing story. v