STOP PRESS

Evening Star, Issue 23452, 18 December 1939, Page 12

STOP PRESS

SCUTTLING OF THE GRAF SPEE.

MONTEVIDEO. December 17. Thu Graf Spec began to sink evenly, listing as the water rushed into the gaping holes caused by the explosions;, and sank with the swastika flying in 2oft of water. Tlie upper works wore still showing when she settled on ibc bottom.

'Tl>e first explosion occurred at 7.55 \ p.m. Flames shut from several

parts, and she began to sink, smoke pouring from, the side of the turrets. The first explosion ripped off the control tower and sprayed the ship with oil, which ignited. The flames w;erc 60ft high. . As the hulk •settled the British warship Cumberland and an unidentified destroyer approached at full speed, the Cumberland's searchlights playing on the smoke pall.

It is believed that there were no

casualties. The entire crew, including a number of wounded, were

transferred to the Tacoma, to which 300 wore transferred' before leaving harbour. The Graf Spec moved slowly towards her appointment with death with six launches alongside, to which the remaining crow wero transferred. Later fjlio moved rapidly off. after which .there were explosions. Immediately the blasts were heard flames and smoko were seen. Harbour craft began blowing sirens and the public rushed to better vantage points. The British Minister (Mr Millington-Drake), trained his binoculars from a nineteenth-story window. Forty minutes after the sinking there was a further series of explosions and flames engulfed the upper works. A column of smoko soared into the sky temporarily. It appeared that the Tacoma was endangered by the flames. A number of launches still on the water dashed to safety. The scuttled Graf Spec’s thick plates buckled like paper. The second blast destroyed the after turret. EXETER AND AJAX CASUALTIES. A British Official ‘Wireless message, quoting an Admiralty statement, says that five officers were killed on the Exeter and three wounded. The ratings killed on the Exeter totalled 56. There were 20 wounded. On the Ajax seven ratings were killed and five wounded.