ACHILLES’ PART IN ACTION

Evening Star, Issue 23451, 16 December 1939, Page 12

ACHILLES’ PART IN ACTION

NEW ZEALAND PRDUD MESSAGE FROM FIRST LORD [Pee United Peess Association.] WELLINGTON, December 15. Tributes in despatches received by the Government, which were read by the Minister of Defence (Mr Jones), in a broadcast to-night, included a message from the First Lord of the Admiralty, Mr Winston Churchill, expressing warm admiration of the most gallant action fought by the Achilles. Mr Churchill’s message was: May I express the warm admiration which my colleagues and J feel for the most gallant action fought by H.M.S. Achilles, whose services were so genereously given on the outbreak of war. The following reply has been sent to the First Lord of tho Admiralty by Mr Jones: — My colleagues and 1 and the Naval Board very much appreciate your kind telegram. We are proud that H.M.S. Achilles has been able to take part in this gallant naval action. Mr Jones said that the news that had been reaching this country by broadcast and cable messages during the past 24 hours couldi not have failed to stir the hearts of all New Zealanders. He rejoiced with them in the victory secured and the active part taken in the naval battle by the Achilles.- “ Last year,” said Mr Jones, “ I had the privilege of spending two days on board the Achilles for the purpose of witnessing naval exercises carried out by that ship in conjunction with other units of the New Zealand Navy, but little did I think the experiences then being gained would soon be tested in actual warfare.” OTHER TRIBUTES In an interview to-day the Prime Minister (Mr Savage) said he would like to express on behalf of the Government and the people the admiration which New Zealanders feel, and to offer the heartiest congratulations to Captain Parry and the complement of the Achilles. “ The people of New Zealand will be thrilled by the fact that one of their own fighting ships, the H.M.S. Achilles, played so splendid a part in putting the German pocket battleship, the Graf von Spee, to rout,” said Mr Savage. “ The sea battle involved a long and strenuous encounter which will take a notable place in the glorious annals of British naval history. I should like to express on behalf of the Government and the people the admiration which New Zealanders everywhere will feel and to offer the heartiest congratulations to Captain Parry and the complement of the Achilles, which includes 327 New Zealand sailors. “ I have just received a telegram from our High Commissioner,” said Mr Savage, “ advising me that the Admiralty had not yet been informed whether or not the Achilles suffered any damage or casualties, and that the latest Admiralty statement is to the effect that the smallest Dominion navy will be proud of the fact that many of her men took part in so gallant an action. “ The High Commissioner, who is in Geneva at the moment, also reports that he received a very large number of expressions of gratitude ahd admiration, in which New Zealanders in the United Kingdom join, for the courageous feats of the officers and ratings of the Achilles. It is indeed gratifying that in this first naval action our boys have acquitted themselves in a manner fully in keeping witli the great traditions of the British Navy. We are all proud of them.” The New Zealand Naval Board has sent its most hearty congratulations to Commodore Harwood and the officers and men under his command. INVERCARGILL, December 15. “ Although the news of the naval engagement in the South Atlauic in which the New Zealand cruiser Achilles played such a distinguished part may cause anxiety in some New Zealand homes, all New Zealanders will feel proud of the heroism and_ daring of the ship and the men against such a formidable foe,” said the Leader of the Opposition (Mr Adam Hamilton) to-night. “ New Zealand owes its very existence to the British Navy, and it fills us with pride to learn of an encounter that adds a further lustre to the Navy’s already glorious traditions.” "TAFFRAIL ” SPEAKS. , (By Radio.’ Captain. Taprell Dorling, R.N., known as “ Taffrail,” in a commentary from Daventry last night spoke with enthusiasm of the part played by the Achilles in the naval engagement. “ The Achilles,” he said, “ belongs to the New Zealand squadron of the Royal Navy, and is manned largely by New Zealanders. Good luck to her and congratulations to New Zealand on having one of the two ships which it maintains present at the first real cruiser action of the war, if one excepts the very one-sided engagement between the Deutschland and, auxiliary armed merchantman Rawalpindi. This latest engagement was anything but onesided. “ What will be the final end of the Graf Spee it is impossible to say. If she sails she will be shadowed by British cruisers, which, once having located her, will never let go. One way and another, the next few days should see some very interesting developments. “ This action in the distant waters of the South Atlantic,” Captain Dorling added, “ is an example of the übiquity of the IRoyal Navy in the work it has been doing since the war began to ensure the freedom of the sens.”