RUNNING FIGHT

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 210, 3 August 1940, Page 7

RUNNING FIGHT

THE ALCANTARA’S ACTION DETAILS OF RAIDER. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (British Official Wireless.) Received August 3, 10.30 a.m. RUGBY, Aug. 2. From further details available in London it appears that the Alcantara’s action against the German raider in the South Atlantic began at about 16,000 yards, which the Alcantara closed to 9000 yards, scoring hits meanwhile.

The German raider, having scored a lucky hit on the Alcantara s waterline, which penetrated into tne engineroom, dropped smoke floats and turned away. Although no great damage was done to the Alcantara, her speed was reduced to ten knots, enabling the enemy to escape. The German raider appeared to be a vessel of between eight and nine thousand tons, with a dark-coloured hull, one straight funnel, and two straight masts carrying topmasts. She carried a broadside of four guns, which seemed to be 5.9 s. THE NAZI STORY.

A Berlin communique states that an engagement occurred in the South Atlantic between a German auxiliary cruiser and the British auxiliary cruiser Alcantara, which received serious hits, particularly in the engineroom, with the result that the battle was broken off and the Alcantara sought refuge at Ilio de Janeiro. The German cruiser continued on her way and carried out her prescribed tasks.