WATCHING AND WAITING

Evening Star, Issue 23452, 18 December 1939, Page 7

WATCHING AND WAITING

BRITISH NAVAL UNITS THE ARK ROYAL JOINS THE RENOWN RIO DE JANEIRO. December 17. The Ark Royal has joined the Renown at the mouth of Montevideo Harbour. The Graf Spee remains poised for aht while Cabinet meets to decide In the German plea for an extension of stay. fiERMANS PLAYING FOR TIME THRILLING DIPLOMATIC BATTLE ' FEVERISH WOW ON DAMAGEDBHIP* - MONTEVIDEO, December 16. If the secrecy shrouding the Uruguayan Foreign Office could be penetrated it would probably reveal a battle as thrilling diplomatically as that of last Wednesday was militarily. While Britain and France are repeated to have continued to strengthen their forces at the mouth of the Rio de la Plata, the Graf Spee’s crew have fwerishly continued their repairs. The tampion heightened! this afternoon, when srft'dke poured from her funnels and her how swung to seaward. Meanwhile, South America’s Foreign Affairs Ministers were equally busy trying to prepare against the situation that Uruguay was facing as a result of the Graf Spee’s entry. The busiest has been the Uruguayan Foreign Minister, Dr Guani, who has been divided between the delicate diplomatic situation with Britain and discussions concerning joint action to protect South American neutrality. Throughout the day Dr Guani has been under the strongest pressure from both Britain and Germany. The German Minister called! at nrtdday and at 5p.m., leaving at 7.45 p.n»., grim-faced and agitated. The British Minister left at 9 p.m., more clfeerful than previously. He told newspapermen that the time expires at 6 p.m., not 8 p.m., to-morrow. ' The German Embassy is declining to atvept the time limit, and is insisting ■OH an unlimited extension on the grounds that it is impossible to com•plete the repairs, in time. The impression in Uruguayan circles is that the Germans are playing for time, and are more interested in awaiting favourable circumstances for escape than in making repairs. At 1 a.m. Dr Guani said the negotiations had been suspended until 8 a.m, on Sunday.

- During the day Captain Langsdorff, high Italian and German diplomats, »nd the Uruguayan Rear-Admiral Beute, who is of German descent and German-educated, conferred at the German Legation, suggesting that the Graf Spee might try to seek refuge again at an Argentine port, thus giving a further 24 ■ hours’ delay . and enabling the arrival of reported reinforcements.

Hundreds of sailors worked on the Graf Spee’a decks. The shell holes on the starboard quarter were plugged inside, and the jagged edges of a huge hole on the port side of the bow smooth-boarded with heavy planks. The anti-aircraft gun tower, which was •torn from its base, has been replaced, and the damaged aeroplanes discharged ashore. The pumps are working constantly. The work continued until 10.30 p.m., when lights were extinguished. Anticipating a sequel to last Wednesday’s battle, thousands of Uruguayans are spending the week-end at the coast. Six New York business men are seeking the State Department’s approval to the hire of an aeroplane at a cost of 5,000d0l each to fly to Uruguay to watch the battle. • LATIN-ANERICAN FLEETS TO ESTABLISH JOINT PATROL MONTEVIDEO, December 16. The Argentine and Uruguayan fleets will establish a joint patrol to prevent a battle with the combined British and French squadron within their jurisdictional waters. News agencies at Montevideo are agreed that Uruguay has given the Graf Spee until Sunday night to leave, •but in the absence of any official Government announcement the deadline is uncertain.

GERMAN COMMANDER S STORY PRAISE FOR BRITISH MARKSMANSHIP MONTEVIDEO, December 16. The Graf Spec's commander (Captain Hans Langsdorff) told the port authorities that fuel shortage and the herding tactics of the British cruisers “ placed him between the devil ‘and the deep blue sea,” reports the Montevideo correspondent of the Associated Press of America. Captain Langsdorff added that when be sighted the Exeter at 6 a.m. off Bratil, the Graf Spec’s fuel was almost exhausted, because she had been unable to contact the supply ship Tacoma. So he headed south. Off Uruguay he encountered the Achilles and the

Ajax, which manoeuvred to keep the Graf Spee between them and the shore. Captain Langsdorff was afraid of risking the shallow water to starboard and was without sufficient fuel for a run to sea for a freer combat position, so he opened lire on the Exeter. In the lively exchange which followed, the Exeter was damaged severely before the Ajax and the Achilles could get into action. It was these two vessels’ Gin guns, however, that really rooked the Graf Spec. Captain Langsdorff praised the British ‘marksmanship and said enormous damage was inflicted by the powerful shells which exploded after piercing the Graf Spee’s armour. He added, with his ship holed, many dead, and his attempts to manoeuvre frustrated, he was forced to run for port. The Graf Spee’s crew are working feverishly to repair the damage. Rain reduced the visibility to a mile and gave the Graf Spee a chance to escape. Officers ashore returned to the ship, after which increased smoke was visible from the stacks; but the battleship did not move. The rain later ceased and the visibility increased. A Berlin message states that the German Official News Agency continues to tone down the unfavourable aspects of the Montevideo reports beyond recognition. It claims that several British reconnaissance planes joined in the battle and were shot down.

THE ADMIRAL SCHEER PROCEEDING TO MONTEVIDEO ESCORTED BY SUBMARINES MONTEVIDEO, December 16. With many repairs made and a stock of provisions aboard, the Graf Spee was apparently ready early on Sunday morning to fight or run the Allied blockade. At 0.30 a.m. small craft and barges were ordered away and the battleship lay with her bow towards the breakwater opening, within half an hour of clear water. But, despite the favourable condition of the moon, set of tide, and a slight fog, she has not moved by 2.30 a.m. It was officially learned at about midnight that Captain Langsdorff considered going to Buenos Aires, but when the subject was broached unofficially lie was informed that the Graf Spee would not be allowed to remain for over 24 hours at any Argentina port.

According to radio reports the other pocket battleship, the Admiral Scheer, escorted by submarines, is ; proceeding to Montevideo.

BREACH OF NEUTRALITY ZONE PREVENTION OF REPETITION OF INCIDENT WASHINGTON, December 16. The. State Department is most concerned at the prospect of a repetition of the sea battle. Mr Cordell Hull indicated that it would be viewed as another serious breach of the neutrality zone. The measures. that the South American countries are studying for the purpose of preventing a repetition of the Graf Spee incident include the adoption of uniform legislation providing for the immediate internment of any belligerent warships entering a neutral port, says the Montevideo correspondent of the ‘ New York Times.’ This is at present the Brazilian Jaw, and Uruguay’s protest to Great Britain and Germany, complaining that part of the battle was fought within the jurisdictional waters of the River Plate, has angered the Americas and convinced them that the protection of their neutrality will require something stronger than resolutions. The feeling is growing that the Graf Spee took refuge to escape the tactical disadvantage of the battle rather than because she was in danger of sinking.

It is officially stated that H.M.S. Renown has asked permission to enter the harbour at Rio de Janeiro.

NOTES SENT TO BRITAIN AND GERMANY NEW YORK, December 16. The ‘ New York Times ’ correspondent states that Uruguay has sent Britain and Germany Notes protesting against their having fought within the mouth of the River Plate. The Notes state that, although the River Plate is over three miles wide, Argentina and Uruguay consider that its entire width constitutes their jurisdictional waters. They also charge the warships with, at one time, exchanging shots within the three-mile limit. They further protest against the battle taking place within 300 miles of the neutral zone established at the Panana Conference. The River Plate is over 100 mileg wide off Montevideo, and the Argentine and Uruguayan Governments are determined, if possible, to prevent any naval action within it. It is understood that the combined navies will begin patrolling at 5 p.m. on Sunday. PAN’AMERICAN CONFERENCE WASHINGTON, December 16. Mr Cordell Hull announced that PanAmerican consultations were being commenced towards common action in the case of a naval engagement. Uruguay was assembling facts of the present case and transmitting them to the President of Panama, who is Pan-American liaison officer. It has not been decided whether the conference will be held or whether the negotiations will be carried out through diplomatic channels. Mr Hull added that the United States would meet the other American countries halfway.

The Navy is seeking 518 aeroplanes costing 28,500,000 dollars, to augment the neutrality patrol.