“DEATH WATCH” ON ENEMY

Southland Times, Issue 24001, 16 December 1939, Page 7

“DEATH WATCH” ON ENEMY

ANOTHER CRUISER ARRIVES ADMIRAL GRAF SPEE TRAPPED URUGUAYANS THREATEN DISMANTLING

(United Press Assn.— Telegraph Copyright) LONDON, December 14.

The British cruiser Cumberland has arrived in Uruguayan waters after a fast ocean voyage, to join the light cruisers outside the Montevideo harbour which are waiting for the Admiral Graf Spee to emerge. This report was first issued by an American agency and later confirmed from London. Compared with the Achilles and Ajax (7100 tons) and the Exeter (8300 tons), the Cumberland is a County Class cruiser of 9900 tons. She has eight 8-inch guns and four 4.4-inch anti-aircraft guns. Uruguay has apparently rejected the German appeal to allow the Admiral Graf Spee to remain 30 days. Informed circles would not be surprised if the pocket battleship chose internment, although dramatic developments are expected. Reuter learns in London that reinforcement for the cruisers makes movement by the Admiral Graf Spee impossible. According to a Berlin message Uruguay informed Germany that the Admiral Graf Spee would not be permitted to remain over 24 hours.

REPAIR WORK REFUSED The Paris radio states that Montevideo dockyard engineers refused the German Embassy’s request to repair the Admiral Graf Spee. A United Press message from Montevideo states it is reliably reported that the Uruguayan Government is inviting the Admiral Graf Spee to leave within the customary 24 hours; if she refuses she will be “dismantled.” A Puerto Belgrano message states that an aeroplane from the cruiser Exeter is reported to have arrived with three gravely-wounded men, two of whom later died. It is understood the Exeter requested a dry dock to be made available for her. A Bahia Blanca message states the Exeter is expected off Mar de Plata before morning, en route to the Puerto Belgrano dry dock. The Associated Press of America in a message from Montevideo states that the Foreign Minister (M. Alberto Guani) announced that the Uruguayan Government had granted the German Government’s request for the Admiral Graf Spee to remain until repairs can be made.

M. Guani said the period the Admiral Graf Spee may remain would be established after a survey by the Uruguayan naval authorities. It would not be long. Time would be allowed for the repairs necessary to enable the Admiral Graf Spee to navigate. Repairs elsewhere would not be taken into consideration.

“DEATH WATCH” The National Broadcasting Company, New York, broadcasting from Uruguay, believes that the Admiral Graf Spee is preparing to sail almost immediately and run the gauntlet of the British “death watch” outside Montevideo. A German tanker the Tacoma has sailed carrying 600,000 gallons of fuel oil and presumably will await the Admiral Graf Spee. The announcer of the American National Broadcasting Company at Uruguay describes the damage to the Admiral Graf Spee. He states there is a hole five or six feet in diameter on the port side, 60 feet from the bow and five feet above the waterline. The forward observation tower is split through and one of the towers near the forward six inch guns is practically torn from correspondent of the United States of America says sources close to the German Legation expect the pocket battleship to leave within a week.