BRIEF TIME ONLY

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20137, 5 January 1940, Page 7

BRIEF TIME ONLY

GRAF SPEE’S BID RUN FOR SAFETY FIRE OF BRITISH SHIPS REASON FOR VICTORY PLANS OF BATTLE (Elec. Tpl. Copyright-—United Press Assn.) (Reed. Jan. 5, 10 a.m.) NEW YORK, Jan. 4. Messages from Buenos Aires and Montevideo state that while the crews of H.M.S. Ajax and H.M.S. Achilles enjoy liberty ashore, Captain Parry, the commander of the Achilles, told a representative of the New York Times that the battle with the Graf von Spee was won against an enemy superior in every way except in speed, only because of the brilliant plans made the day previously. Vice-Admiral Harwood, of the Ajax, said that the Graf von Spee fled after the fii'st 16 minutes of fighting. The battle thereafter was a running one. Captain Parry was wounded by shell splinters in the legs. The ship was only slightly hit. Captain Parry praised the lookouts of the Achilles who were rewarded with a sovereign apiece for obtaining the first sight of the enemy. He added that the battle was mostly fought 200 miles offshore.

Further messages report that the cerebrations in connection with the visits by the warships are gay. It is reported that men of the Achilles met members of the Graf von Spee’s crew at a night club and British and Germans exchanged toasts, giving assurances that they bore one another no personal enmity.