PRISONERS ON GRAF SPEE

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

PRISONERS ON GRAF SPEE

Names Of Raider’s Victims SURVIVORS FREED AT MONTEVIDEO

(United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright) (Received December 15, 8.5 p.m.) MONTEVIDEO, December 14. The British Consulate-General announced that the Admiral Graf Spee’s victims were the Clement, Newton Beach, Ashlea, Huntsman, Trevanion, Africa Shell, Doric Star, Tairoa and Streonshalh. The Africa Shell was sunk off East Africa, the Streon Shall in the South Atlantic and the remainder off the coast of South America. A report from an American source states that 62 prisoners were released from the Admiral Graf Spee. Before they were freed the prisoners—who came from nine merchantmen—were forced to sign a pledge to remain ashore for the rest of the war on a penalty of death if recaptured. Lean and unshaven they carried shapeless bags holding their scanty belongings. Some were clinging to lifebelts salvaged from their old ships. Their ages ranged from 72 to boys, apparently under 15. All showed the effects of a terrible day of close confinement in the bowels of the Admiral Graf Spee while British shells pounded the ship but they cheered and laughed as the shells landed on the Admiral Graf Spee. Her commander and the German Naval Attache, both in full dress, surrendered the men to Uruguayan officials in the naval prefecture. They were later turned over to the British Legation.

' CAPTAINS IDENTIFIED The captains were identified as Captains Brown, Pottinger, Edwards, Stubbs and Dore of the Huntsman, Ashlea, Trevanion, Doric Star and Africa Shell respectively. Prisoners disclosed that the pocket battleship left Germany before the outbreak of war and after sinking the Clement off Brazil on October 2 ranged Over the South Atlantic from South America to Africa. She confiscated provisions before sinking and either took the crew prisoner or set them adrift in life-boats.

The prisoners said that they were well treated but some commented that while the Germans were good sailors and friendly they appeared more willing to seize merchantmen than risk a fight with British or French warships. The prisoners were frequently allowed on deck. Sixty-two were kept in a single room without distinction between officers and men but there was no particular discomfort.

DORIC STAR OFFICER’S STORY A quiet-mannered Doric Star officer gave one of the best accounts. “We were awakened at 6 a.m. by cannonad-

ing and knew it was serious when the guards locked and barred our doors and went to their battle stations. We realized a British victory might mean our deaths. Nevertheless as the battle progressed there was singing and cheering for the attackers. “We counter seventeen hits by British shells. You may not believe it, but several who were shaving when the firing began quietly went on and finished the' job. I was gargling medicine when we had a British visitor. A piece of shell tore its way into our quarters. I swallowed all the medicine.”