Berlin's Shameless Story

Northern Advocate, 15 December 1939, Page 7

Berlin 's Shameless Story

The Berlin official news agency says that the latest Monte Video messages state that the Graf Spee shows no sign of damage. Life aboard is normal. • The control towers and hull are intact. Other German reports continue shamelessly to claim complete victory, thus the semi-official “Deutsche'rdienst” says:

“Ajax fled and Exeter was shelled to pieces, while other reports claim that the Achilles was sunk.”

Berlin radio, on the other hand, admits that the Graf Spee was hit several times, but out-actioned the Exeter and heavily damaged one other cruiser.

“Enormous Impression.”

The Berlin official news agency later released a despatch, ostensibly from Buenos Aires, which states:

“The news of the successful naval engagements of a German warship with several British cruisers made an enormous -impression. ,

“It was not thought posible that one German warship could break the British blockade and appear on this side of the Atlantic, which is dominated by the British Navy. “Only British reports of the engagement are so far available and are obviously aimed at minimising the British losses.

“Britons Seek Safety.”

“But it is established that the German warship caused heavy losses and damage to the British cruisers, forcing them to fall out of the action and seek safety in Monte Video.

“This German naval victory is regarded as important, because it proves that the German Navy is able to hold its own even in the remotest zones against a force far superior in numbers.

“All reports confirm that the British used mustard gas, thus spoiling the German vessel’s food. That was the reason the German warship also anchored at Monte Video.

Gas Allegation a Lie. The Admiralty denies the statement of the German Legation at Monte Video that the Graf Spec’s casualties were mostly caused because the British used .mustard gas grenades. “The allegation is entirely without foundation,” it is stated. “No mustard gas grenades or shells were ever made for or used by the Navy.”