ATLANTIC BATTLE

Grey River Argus, 3 August 1940, Page 5

ATLANTIC BATTLE

ARMED LINER And German Vessel I’Aus. & N.Z. Cable Assn.] RIO DE JANIERO, August 1. The United Press of America correspondent, who went aboard the Alcantara on her arrival, ascertained that the guns and armour were pot affected. Only one of the Alcantara’s normal two funnels was visible from the shore as she arrived. An’ officer stated that the damage was slight, and could be repaired in two or three days. Captain Ingham confirmed that one. officer and one rating were killed, and that seven men wounded were still aboard. The Alcantara’s dead are Lieutenant Pickersgill and Able-seaman Coogan. Wounded ratings, appearing with their arms in clings, declared: “We are ready for them again any time.’ The German vessel may be the raider which a fortnight ago was reported off the West Indies, where two British merchant vessels were sunk. The raider was then reported to be flying the Swedish flag. Though there is nothing official to connect this vessel with that chased by the Alcantara, it is believed that they are one and the same. CAPTAIN’S STATEMENT RIO DE JANIERO, August 1. The master of the armed liner Alcantara asserted that the German raider was badly damaged by repeated hits. His crew were very cheerful. He described the engagement as follows: “A ship’s topmasts were sighted on Sunday forenoon. The Alcantara investigated, and was overhauling the ship when she turned and disclosed her identity by hoisting the swastika ensign, simultaneously opening fire, which we immediately returned, scoring hits. Obviously, this was the reason why the enemy’s firing became erratic. It was also clear that we inflicted internal damage, as she considerably reduced her speed. Unfortunately, a lucky shot holed the Alcantara in the engine-room. The enemy vanished behind a smokescreen. We were unable to maintain sufficient speed to keep within gun range of the enemy. Aside from the hit in the the Alcantara’s damage was slight.”