AJAX AND ACHILLES

Grey River Argus, 5 January 1940, Page 7

AJAX AND ACHILLES

WELCOMED BY CROWDS 1 — At Monte Video and Buenos Aires [Aust-.- & N.Z. Cable Assn.] ✓ MONTEVIDEO, January 3. H.M/o. Ajax has arrived, in Montevideo. Huge' crowds, who had been waiting for hours, saw..the cruiser I pass .the twisted 'wreckage of the Graf Spee. The Ajax raised the Uruguayam mid Rear-Admiral Harwood’s she entered the harbour and ■ firei fisalute, which the Uruguayan shofqSatteries answered. T;-®|fenthds;astic crowds gave,■'the victc’apfe heroes’ welcome. .Breaking the jrofee cordon, thousands rushed tbwaraf the cruiser, but the special guard®‘prevented them clambering ab®ard.. ,■ Ajax bore evidence , of hits frqta the Graf Spee’s .guns. One sljfell completely demolished RearAflmiral Harwood’s cabin and personal belongings. .: JRear-Admiral Harwood, and other ‘.officers of the Ajax commended CapVain Langsdorff’s handling of., the Graf Speq, and , the German sailors’ se&manship. Most of. the officers agrebdx that the pocket-battleship -was an cSfeiitive fighting unit, .- but not so as had been expec.-Rear-Admiral HaN-vood ed in borrowed came ashore. He Allied warships, were in Estuary when the Graf Spee ed from Montevideo. Only the berland had joined the Achilles and the-Ajax. . • . •. H.M.S. Achilles appeared shorJy after the Ajax, and proceeded to Buenos Aires, where she . berthed.

Gay Celebrations COMMANDERS’ COMMENT ON BATTLE. GRAF SPEE MEN MET. (Received January 5, 12.15, ■ ' BUENOS AIRES, January a. While the Achilles and Ajax crews were enjoying liberty here and •in Montevideo, Commander Parry of-the Achilles told a “New York Tinies" correspondent that the naval battle was won against an enemy superior iu every way except in speed. It was .only won because brilliant plans were made the day previously. Rear-Admirai ■ Harwood said tne Graf Spee . fled after, the first sixteen minutes’ fighting. The battle, thereafter, was. a running one. Commander Parry was wounded by shell splinters in the. legs. His ship was only slightly hit. He'praised the ; Achilles look-outs, who were rewarded with a sovereign apiece., for the first sight of ..the enemy.. He .added that the .battle was mostly fought 200 miles off shore. .'./ ,/u .• -• The celebrations , for ", the. Achilles and Ajax at Buenos Aires and Monte- • video have-been-gay.

The; American Associated-,Press, reported that, men from H,M>2- Achilles met members'qf the crew of the Grar Spee. They exchanged toasts and assured one another that there was no personal enmity.