SWASTIKA FLIES AS SHIP SINKS

Southland Times, Issue 24003, 19 December 1939, Page 5

SWASTIKA FLIES AS SHIP SINKS

CREW TRANSFERRED TO TACOMA BRITISH MINISTER WATCHES SCENE .... I (United Press Assn. —Telegraph Copyright) MONTEVIDEO, December 17. Shortly before 6 p.m. the Admiral Graf Spee began raising her anchors and was expected to depart at 6 p.m. She then began moving up the River Plate, apparently towards Buenos Aires instead of towards the open sea. However, she halted suddenly after proceeding a few hundred yards and then swung about and headed towards the sea at 6 p.m. after transferring all the married men on board to the Tacoma. Off the coast she exploded and began to sink at 7.55 p.m. The Admiral Graf Spee began sinking evenly, listing as the water rushed into the gaping holes caused by the explosions. She sank with the swastika flying, in 25 feet of water. Her upper works were still showing when she settled on the bottom. Flames shot from several parts after the first explosion and she began to sink with smoke pouring from her sides and her turrets. The first explosion ripped off the conning-tower and sprayed the ship with oil, which ignited into flames 60 feet high as the hulk settled. The British cruiser Cumberland and an unidentified destroyer approached at full speed as the Cumberland’s searchlights played on the smoke pall. The weirship’s thick plates buckled like papier mache as a second blast destroyed a turret. The entire crew, including a number of wounded, were transferred to the Tacoma, to which 300 were transferred before leaving the harbour. The Admiral Graf Spee moved slowly towards her appointment with death. Six launches were alongside and to these die remaining members of the crew were transferred at 7.27 as a tug and barge flying the Argentine flag approached. Boats moved rapidly off from the warship, after which the explosions occurred. Immediately the blasts were heard flames and smoke were seen. Harbour craft began blowing their sirens and the public rushed to better vantage points. The British Minister, Mr Eugen Mil-lington-Drake, trained his binoculars on the scene from a nineteenth-story window. Forty minutes after the sinking a further series of explosions was heard and flames engulfed the upper works. A column of smoke drifted into the sky and it seemed momentarily that the Tacoma would be endangered by the flames as a number of launches still in the water dashed to safety. LOSS OF DESTROYER DUCHESS (Received December 18, 6.30 p.m.) RUGBY, December 17. The Admiralty tonight published a list, now believed to be complete, of the casualties suffered by the loss of the destroyer Duchess, which sank after a collision. The list contains the names of six officers and 123 ratings. CASUALTIES ON AJAX AND EXETER LONDON, December 17. The Admiralty has announced that the casualties on the Exeter were five officers killed and three wounded, and 26 ratings killed and 20 wounded, and on the Ajax seven ratings killed and five wounded. The British Ambassador at Buenos Aires is despatching a temporary hospital ship to meet the Exeter with a senior surgeon, three doctors, 12 nurses, a radiologist and X-rays.