ATLANTIC BATTLE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 9 December 1940, Page 5

ATLANTIC BATTLE

LONG CHASE AT HIGH SPEED BRITISH SHIP AND RAIDER STORY OF THE ACTION (U.P.A.-By Electric Telegraph-Copyright] Received 9th Dec., 10.30 a.m. MONTEVIDEO, Bth Dec. The British Legation has issued the following communique on the action between the armed merchant cruiser, Carnarvon Castle (20,000 tons), and the German raider in the South Atlantic: “The action lasted 90 minutes. It began with a long chase at high speed in which the enemy continually attempted to break off the action and disappeared finally at high speed under a smoke i screen. Damage to the Carnarvon Castle, though very noticeable, is mostly superficial and will be easily repaired. The German ship undoubtedly was greatly damaged and probably will be caught and destroyed soon. The conduct of the sailors upheld the highest traditions of the Royal Navy. The commander of the Carnarvon Castle, Captain H. N. Hardy, said there were no prisoners on board. The Admiralty would release the news of the number of dead and injured. “Nothing can be said about the injured,” he said, “but they are not serious, and it will be unnecessary to disembark them. They will be cured on board.” It is unofficially reported that there are seven dead and some wounded. Officers of the cruiser Uruguay said they sighted the British warship Warspite speeding north, apparently attempting to intercept the raider. When the Carnarvon Castle arrived she carried a collision patch over her bow, presumably covering a shell hole. Light hits were visible on the port side, while the starboard side was more seriously damaged, including four well-defined direct hits, one of which apparently passed through the ship near the bow. TWENTY-TWO SHELL HITS It is revealed that the Carnarvon Castle received a total of 22 shell hits while battling with the raider, which is now described as the Hansa Lloyd, a merchantman. It fired two torpedoes at the first action. The cruiser Enterprise is now seeking the raider. It is understood that 22 German prisoners were placed on board the Queen of Bermuda. Diplomats says the legation has requested a 48 hours’ stay for repairs. It is understood the Government is awaiting the report of technicians before answering. It is recalled that the Graf Spee remained 72 hours. A later message states that a Uruguayan naval commission estimates that it will take 72 nours for repairs to be Carnarvon Castle to carried out. Naval circles in Montevideo believe that British warships are scouring the South Atlantic for the raider. They forecast the possibility of another dramatic battle. It is understood that the Carnarvon Castle halted the Brazilian coastal ship Itape on Ist December and took off 22 German seamen. It is reported that the Brazilian Foreign Office has protested to the British Embassy at Rio de Janeiro against the halting of the Itape, and indicated that Brazil is de termined not to recognise Britain’s right to interfere with and inspect Brazilian vessels. RAIDER JUT AMIDSHIPS [U.P.A.-By Electric Telegraph-Copyright] (Received 9th December, 10.40 a.m.) MONTEVIDEO, Bth December. The casualties on the Carnarvon Castle were seven dead and 14 wour.aed. In an interview with the American United Press, one of the vessel’s gunners said: “Early on Thursday morning the Carnarvon Castle picKed up a German ship and fired a shot across her bow As a precaution, and in view of several unpleasant surprises we have had in recent weeks, the captain ordered the crew to battle stations. At 8.5 a.m., without warning, the German opened fire and the battle was on. The captain immediately ordered the gunners to straddle the enemy, seeking range. The German did likewise.” The gunner paid a tribute to the Germans, who frequently straddled the Carnarvon Castle seldom over 20 yards on either side. He said Captain Hardy kept the ship straight on her course till the Germans found range. He continued:— “We were ready for a direct hit. Then at the last moment we changed course. It was evident from the first that the German had the heavier guns —at least two eight inc’ guns—and she did her utmost to bring them to bear. Besides the German was long and low with little freeboard, making him harder to hit. Despite that we hit her fair amidships. That put out of commission the guns on that side and forced her to tack to port to bring the remaining guns to bear on us. Altogether he hit us 2? times, none seriously. “One shell burst close to a gun crew. One little fellow with his arm smashed and a piece of steel in his stomach turned to his mates and said: ‘I have not let you down, mates, have I?’ He was taken to the infirmary, but did not last very long. He was buried with honours with six others after the ! battle. “Before she got away the German fired two torpedoes, which missed. As she disappeared in a smoke screen, we saw her settling down by the stern. We were short of munitions, and decided to go to Montevideo, turning southward. “We first saw the Queen of Bermuda, which took off our 22 Germans from the Itape. A number of ratings from the Queen of Bermuda were trans ferred to us. A few hours later we picked up H.M.S. Enterprise, who signalled asking if we needed assistance. We said ‘No.’ She went northward at full speed. That German is bound straight for Davy Jones’s locker.”