THE RIVER PLATE

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 143, 13 December 1940, Page 9

THE RIVER PLATE

GREAT JfAVAL BATTLE j END OF ADMIRAL GRAF SPEE FIRST ANNIVERSARY Today is the first anniversary of the Battle of the River Plate, which has already taken its place in history not only as a memorable event J of the present war, but also as one of the most remarkable naval actions of all time. The Admiral Graf Spec, till then regarded as one of the • most formidable naval units of her size afloat, was engaged by vastly inferior British warships—Exeter (8390 tons), armed with six 8-inch guns, Ajax (6985 tons), and Achilles (7030 tons), each armed with eight &-inch guns. Although the Graf Spec's fire power from her. six 11-inch and eight 5.9-inch guns was greater than the combined fire power of the three light -cruisers against her, the fight ended in the German battleship fleeing to the shelter of the River Plate. She emerged three days later, not to give battle to the still light British forces waiting for her, but to meet an inglorious end by scuttling. She blew up and was sinking at 7.55 p.m. on the evening of December 17. A RUNNING FIGHT. The action began at 6 a.m. on December 13 and developed into an 18----hour running fight, which ended only when the Graf Spec had sought shelter in neutral waters. The German ship was repeatedly hit by the accurate British gunners, and the skilful use of smoke screens and all the tricks of battle manoeuvres by the light cruisers enabled them to range their light

armaments effectively on their big enemy. Exeter was hit and damaged early in the fight, but Ajax and Achilles continued to harass the enemy, approaching at times to dangerously close range.

The engagement was of particular interest to New Zealand -.because Achilles was partly manned by New Zealanders—both officers and ratings. She was commanded by Commodore (then Captain) W. E. Parry, now Chief of the Naval Staff in New Zealand. Thg three British cruisers were under the command of Vice-Admiral (then Commodore) Sir Henry Harwood. AUCKLAND DEDICATION. The dedication of Achilles Point, the bold headland at St. Helier's, Auckland, to commemorate the part that H.M.S. Achilles took in the naval action off the River Plate, took place this afternoon. The dedication ceremony was performed by the Minister of Defence (Mr. Jones), and Commodore W. E. Parry, C.8., spoke.