LONG CHASE

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 64, 9 December 1940, Page 7

LONG CHASE

Battle In South Atlantic

RAIDER MAKES OFF Carnarvon Castle At Montevideo SUPERFICIAL DAMAGE

(By Telegraph’.—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Received December 8, 9 p.m.) MONTEVIDEO, December 8. The British Legation has issued the following communique on the action between the armed merchant cruiser, Carnarvon Castle (20,000 tons), and the German raider in the South Atlantic: — “The action lasted 90 minutes. It began with a. long chase at high speed in which the enemy continually attempted to break off the action and disappeared finally at high speed under a smoke screen. Damage to the Carnarvon Castle, though very noticeable, is mostly superficial and will be easily repaired. The German ship undoubtedly was greatly damaged and probably will be caught and destroyed soon. Ihe conduct of the sailors upheld the highest traditions of the Royal Naw.”

The commander of the Carnarvon Castle, Captain 11. N. Hardy, said there were no prisoners on board. The Admiralty would release the news of the number of dead and injured. “Nothing can be sai'd about the injured,” he said, “but they are not serious, and it will be unnecessary to disembark them. They will be cured on board.” ’lt is unofficially reported that there are seven dead and some wounded. Officers of the cruiser Uruguay said they sighted the British warship Warspite speeding north, apparently attempting to intercept the raider. When the Carnarvon Castle arrived she carried a collision patch over her bow. presumably covering a shell hole. Light hits were visible on the port side, while the starboard side was more seriously damaged, including four well-defined direct hits, one of which apparently passed- through the ship near the bow. The large crowd cheered. Twenty-two Shell Hits. It is revealed that the Carnarvon Castle received a total of 22 shell hits while battling with the raider, which is now described as the Hansalloyd, a merchantman. It fired two torpedoes as- the first action. The cruiser Enterprise is now seeking the raider. It is understood that 22 German prisoners were placed on board the Queen of Bermuda. Diplomats say the legation has requested a 4S hours’ stay for repairs. It is understood the Government - k awaiting the report of technicians before answering. It is recalled that the Grat Spee remained 72 hours. A later message states that a Uruguayan naval commission estimates that it will take <2 hours for repairs to the Carnarvon Castle to be carried out. Naval circles in Montevideo believe that British warships are scouring the South Atlantic for the raider. They forecast the possibility of another dramatic battle. It is understood that the Carnarvon Castle halted the Brazilian coastal ship Itape on December 1 and took off 22 German seamen. It is reported that the Brazilian Foreign Office has protested to the Britisli Embassy at Rio de Janeiro against the halting of the Itape, and indicated that Brazil is determined not to recognize Britain’s right to interfere with ami inspect Brazilian vessels.

RAIDER’S CRUISE

Mines Laid Near New Zealand

NEW YORK, December 6.

The log of the British freighter Haxby, which was sunk by a raider in April, reveals that the raider afterward laid mines near New Zealand. The crew of the Haxby were taken prisoner and put aboard the captured Norwegian steamer Tropic Sea, which was seized near Norfolk Island and afterward scuttled north-west of Spain. The log shows that the Haxby left Greenock on April S for Texas, and seven days after leaving her convoy a steamer flying the Greek colours crossed her bows and then hoisted tlie Nazi ensign. The ship fired on the Haxby from four concealed six-inch guns. The survivors were taken prisoner and the raider, on May 2, laid mines off West Africa. On May 7 she refuelled from the 5000-ton German tanker Winnetou, and afterward laid mines near New Zealand. On June IS she intercepted the Tropic Sea. She again refuelled from the Winnetou and placed the British sailors and a prize crew aboard the Tropic Sea. When attempting to reach Bordeaux the raider was intercepted by a submarine.

A Norwegian ship, apparently used as a German prison vessel, sailed from Kol/e after a 12-hour stay, during which she took on board supplies. It is believed that she might be co-operat-ing witli a German commerce raider which is operating in tlie Southern Pacific.

The Navy Hydrographic Office in Washington has advised shipmasters that floating mines were sighted in the vicinity of Bass Strait, Australia.