RIVER PLATE HERO.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 261, 2 October 1940, Page 7

RIVER PLATE HERO.

KNIGHTHOOD RECEIVED

(British Official Wireless.) (Itec. 10.5 a.m.) RUGBY, Oct. 1. Rear-Admiral Harwood, who commanded the River Plate engagement with the Graf Spee in December,- has returned home for the first time since his great victory. To-day he was knighted by the King at Buckingham Palace.

The battle of the River Plate marked the first spectacular deed of the Now Zealand Naval Division in the war with the gallant part played by H.M.S. Achilles in the running fight with the German “pocket” battleship Graf Spee. On the morning of December 13 the Graf Spee gave chase to the French steamer Formosc off the coast of Brazil, but three British cruisers, headed by the 6985-ton Ajax, made for thee scene. Immediately the Ajax laid a smokescreen, allowing the Forinoso to escape. As the 8390-ton Exeter and the 7030-ton Achilles appeared, an all-day running battle ensued in a zig-zag line i towards Montevideo. As compared with the Nazi ship’s six 11-in. guns capable of firing 6701 b. shells, the Exeter carried eight 6in. guns for 2561 b. projectiles and both the Ajax and Achilles eight ' 6in guns capable of hurling 1001 b shells. The Exeter, after receiving more than 40 direct hits, proceeded to her Falkland Island base, and Rear-Admiral Harwood transferred his flag to the Ajax to continue the battle, the climax to which was the race for Montevideo by the Graf Spee. On December 17, acting on Hitler’s orders, Captain Hans Langsdorff, scuttled his ship near the mouth of the Rio de la Plata. Three days later he committed suicide.