ORDERS GIVEN BY HITLER

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

ORDERS GIVEN BY HITLER

Report Of Talk By Telephone

CREW ON WAY TO BUENOS AIRES (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright) (Received December 18, 9.0 p.m.) LONDON, December 18. It is reported that Captain Hans Langsdorff, captain of the Admiral Graf Spee, telephoned Herr Hitler and was instructed to destroy the ship rather than let the British do so. German sources are certain that all the crew are safe. It is revealed that the Tacoma transferred the Admiral Graf Spee’s crew before re-entering the harbour. The entire crew are en route to Buenos Aires, where, it is expected, they will be treated as survivors of a marine disaster and not interned. The Germans have published notes exchanged between Captain Langsdorff and the port authorities, showing that the Admiral Graf Spee had' only 105 minutes in which to leave or be interned. This was because a British freighter put to sea at 6.15 p.m. on December 16, thereby preventing the Admiral Graf Spee’s departure until 24 hours later. In accordance with Article 16 of The Hague Convention, she could not sail before 6.15 p.m. the next day, but Uruguay ruled that if she had not sailed before 8 p.m. she would be interned.

The Tacoma's master was arrested for leaving the harbour without permission when he anchored at Montevideo. The Admiral Graf Spee was on the bottom three minutes after the first explosion. IGNOMINIOUS END The New York Herald-Tribune, in a leading article, deals with the ignominious end of the Admiral Graf Spee, contrasting her unheroic scuttling with the original Admiral Von Spee. The naval correspondent of The New York Times says that the scuttling is a blow to the prestige and morale of the German Navy, and perhaps, nation. The editorial praises the British seamanship and Uruguay’s firmness in respecting international law. A high naval authority’s statement, published in The Times, London, says that the scuttling of the Admiral Graf Spee, which would never have happened in the old German Navy, is more humiliating than if the Germans had submitted to internment To have steamed out and fought would have been magnificent and to have been interned would have been understandable, but they chose an ignominious end. A message from Berlin says that the Official News Agency stated that the commander scuttled the Admiral Graf Spee after Uruguay had refused the necessary time for repairs. The agency, shortly before the scuttling, issued a statement saying that her mission had been fulfilled and gave details of her captures and sinkings. It admitted for the first time that superior Allied forces were awaiting the departure of the ship. The reports were given prominence in early morning editions, indicating that the Government was preparing the people for her loss. The Montevideo correspondent of the Associated Press of America states that the wreckage of the Admiral Graf Spee is almost broken in two. The ebb tide has uncovered parts of the bow and superstructure. Sections of the bow are warped by heat. The guns, turrets and stacks are in position. SEVEN OF TAIROA’S CREW SAFE WELLINGTON, December 18. The Shaw, Savill and Albion Company has received cabled advice from its London office that seven of the Tairoa’s crew are safe in Montevideo. The commander and the remainder are on board an enemy auxiliary.