COURAGEOUS TACTICS

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 86, 5 January 1940, Page 9

COURAGEOUS TACTICS

New Details Of Battle Revealed

Further details of the engagement with the Admiral Graf Spee have been revealed following the visits by H.M.S. Ajax and the H.M.S. Achilles to Montevideo and. Buenos Aires. Captain Parry, commander of the Achilles, in expressing appreciation of the warm welcome extended to the ship and its crew, paid a tribute to the skill of Admiral Sir Henry Harwood, cojnman’der of the Exeter, who directed the engagement. The three points of note in Admiral Harwood’s course of action were the. concentration o f the three ships at the right time and place, his courageous tactics when the Graf Spee was sighted, and his clear orders. Captain Parry added that the Achilles had joined the squadron only two days before the action and had not previously worked with the other warships. “Admiral Harwood’s orders were so unmistakable, that I knew exactly what to do,” said Captain Parry. He also paid a tribute to the. magnificent conduct and fighting spirit of the New Zealanders in his crew. The damage to the Achilles was very small. There were no direct hits, and the casualties were caused by shell splinters. Prearranged Plan. When Admiral Harwood went ashore at Montevideo, he revealed that the throe ships attacked according to a prearranged plan. The Exeter was on one flank and. the Ajax and the Achilles on the other. The Exeter was hit early in the engagement. “We must have damaged the Graf Spee seriously,” said Admiral Harwood, “as after 1G minutes she put up a smoke screen and made off for the River Plate at full speed.” Sir Henry told how, with the Exeter dropping astern, the Ajax and the Achilles closed in to within four miles of the Graf Spep and frequently hit hey as she zig-zagged and continued to throw out a smoke screen. Fires were seen to break out on the Graf Spee. After 80 minutes the British warships broke action and drew off to a range from where they could shadow the Graf Spee. When she finally entered Montevideo it was nearly evening.

The Graf Spee sudderily turned and fired three salvos at the Achilles, but no hits were registered. Twenty minutes later, as darkness was setting in, she tired another three salvos, but again failed to register any hits. “When the Admiral Graf Spee anchored in Montevideo, we took up position, and wailed with the Cumberland for her to come out,” said Sir Henry. “We were ready to continue the fight, anil the damage to our ships was repaired at sea while we were waiting.” —By radio.

Rear-Admiral Harwood and other officers of the Ajax in Montevideo commended Captain Langsdorffs handling of the Admiral Graf Spee and the seamanship of Hie German sailors. Most of Hie officers agreed that Hie pocket-battleship was an effective lighting unit, lint not: a dangerous ns had been expected. The Ajax bore evidence of hits from the Graf Spec’s guns. One shell completely demolished Rear-Admiral Harwood’s cabin and

his personal belongings. He was dressed in borrowed clothes when he came ashore. Sir Henry denied that nine Allied warships were in Hie Pinta estuary when Hie Graf Spee departed from Montevideo. Only the Cumberland had joined the Achilles and Ajax.— Press Association.