“Only Thing To Do,” Says Graf Spee Commander

Northern Advocate, 20 December 1939, Page 5

“Only Thing To Do,” Says Graf Spee Commander

BUENOS AIRES, December 18. The Commander of the Admiral Graf Spee (Captain Langsdorff) told a representative of the American Associated Press that while preying on merchantmen he once disguised the Graf Spee as H.M.S. Renown by changing her superstructure and adding a dummy funnel. He laughed ruefully: “But maybe the joke was on us. Perhaps we fooled nobody.”

Captain Langsdorff said he frequently disguised the ship to pass as the Deutschland or the Admiral Scheer.

“Once we actually passed for the Admiral Scheer,” he said, referring to the sinking of the Clement, members of the crew of which said the raider was the Admiral Scheer.

The German captain admitted that he was not short of fuel when he took refuge in Monte Video. He said he really had enough to reach the coast of Spain. He added that the ship’s draught was 21 feet, which was more than normal, when he decided to sink her in 25 feet of water.

“That was the only thing to do,” he said.

Direct Hit From Exeter

Neutral experts studying all the technical information believe the Graf Spec’s flight into Monte Video was due to a direct hit from the Exeter’s forward 8-inch gun turret. The Graf Spee’s forward . three 11-inch guns wre put out of commission and her fire-control installation was destroyed.

All the food supplies were rendered unfit for consumption.

Finally, the captain believed there were large British units in the vicinity.

The Graf Spee’s young crew were convinced that only the Hood, Renown and Repulse could touch the Graf Spec, and, therefore, they were sure they would not be embroiled in a naval action.

Theywere amazed to find themelveh fighting three cruisers, and more amazed still to find that they were getting the worst of it. Crew Interned. A message from Buenos Aires says 600 members of the Graf Spee’s crew arrived on board two tugboats and a barge. The maritime police quickly surrounded the vessels and isolated the crews, who have been interned. A member of the German Legation staff and there were 1000 arrivals, including the Tacoma’s crew. Captain Hans Langsdorff was among them. An announcement by the Argentine Foreign Office confirmed the reports of the internment of the Germans.