CRUISERS VANQUISH GRAF VON SPEE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVII, Issue 21528, 15 December 1939, Page 7

CRUISERS VANQUISH GRAF VON SPEE

Badly Damaged Raider Runs for

Shelter

Achilles Plays Part in Thrilling Sea Battle

United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received December 14, 8.42 p.m.) LONDON, December 14. THE ADMIRALTY announces that the cruisers Exeter, Ajax and Achilles under * the command of Commodore H. H. Harwood contacted a German pocket battleship at 6 a.m. yesterday in the South Atlantic. A heavy running fight occurred between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. at which time the Exeter, receiving damage and reducing her speed, was forced to drop out of the action. The Ajax and the Achilles continued the chase of the enemy which was repeatedly hit and appeared to be seeking refuge in the River Plate. A message from New York states that after the damaged battleship anchored at Montevideo the German Minister arrived at the port Prefect’s office shortly after midnight to intern her for the duration of the war says the correspondent of the Associated Press of America. An earlier dispatch from the correspondent of the United Press of America at Montevideo said it was not known whether the battleship would leave port when the customary 24 hours limit expired or

whether it would be interned. The wounded were disembarked and taken to a military hospital. The battleship steamed along the coast after the battle ended playing her searchlights on the beaches as she was not familiar with the harbour entrance. The correspondent adds three British cruisers almost immediately followed the German vessel into the harbour. According to a message from New York in the first sea battle the Graf Von Spee at Montevideo disembarked 36 dead and 60 wounded while a few miles away watchfully lay the British cruisers which defeated her in an eighteen hours’ running battle, the biggest and most dramatic engagement of the war. A silent and awed crowd jammed the waterfront to witness the casualties being taken ashore.

The vanguished Nazi ship has three gaping holes in her hull, superstructure and forecastle and other scars. The commander is slightly injured and one of the officers is dead. The Graf Von Spee’s damage is such that she is unable to depart immediately. It was indicated that she will be given time for repairs before internment proceedings are instituted. It is reported that the captain and others from six captured British merchantmen would be released here.

The correspondent of the “New York Times” says that the Ajax was convoying the French liner Formosa from Rio Janeiro to Montevideo when the Graf von Spee opened fire. A wireless message brought the Exeter and Achilles foaming into action. The Formosa hurried to safety during the first intense action. The Graf von Spee tried vainly to outrun and outmanoeuvre the British ships. The firing continued for four hours. The Exeter’s guns inflicted the first heavy damage on the enemy, while the lighter British ships maintained contact fearlessly and effectively, thereupon the Graf von Spee, now leading the chase southward, devoted all her attention to the Exeter, whose steering gear was damaged, thus forcing her to quit the battle. During the latter part of the engagement the Graf von Spee was so badly crippled that she made full speed for the coast.

The Ajax and Achilles doggedly pursued the Graf von Spee. When oft Punta Del Este the British taking advantage of the setting sun to get the Graf von Spee silhouetted in the reflection of the eastern sky while they were protected by the land's shadow. This forced the Graf von Spee to change course to her disadvantage, subjecting her to heavy fire. Thus night fell with guns blazing. It was a picturesque sight for many watchers ashore. Finally the Graf von Spee managed to reach the entrance to the River Plate and the British ships ceased firing. Informed circles in Washington believe fiat there will be no repercusisons in connection with Pan-American neutrality, since the naval engagement among the belligerents did not affect neutrals. The Montevideo correspondent of the United Press of America, states that the President’s secretary announced that the Admiral of the Graf von Spee will be allowed to remain 30 days to effect repairs. Several doctors boarded the Exeter. The British casualties have not been announced. The legal position of the Graf von Spee is now governed by The Hague Convention of 1907, permitting damaged belligerent warships to remain In a neutral port for more than 24 hours, but only lo carry out essential repairs. It does not distinguish between damage by weather and damage in battle.

Round by Round Description . The Montevideo correspondent of the Associated Press of America, says' that the Punta Del Este lightship radioed details of the naval engagement. South American listeners heard a running story of the broadcast like a round by round description of a prize fight. It is unknown when the ships made contact, but rumours that the Graf von Spee and the Achilles were engaged in battle persisted throughout the afternoon. The lightship reported the Graf von Spee at 4 p.m. with “a battleship believed to be the Barham following." How the Barham came to be mentioned was not explained at first but it was later authoritatively stated that there is a similarity in the Barham’s profile to the Achilles. At 6 p.m. a Uruguayan port official sighted two British warships 20 miles astern of the Graf von Spee. At 8 p.m. Penta Del Este lightship reported that the ships had disappeared but 20 detonations lasted 10 minutes. At 8.15 p.m. the ships were nine miles off Punta Ballenas proceeding in a south-west direction. Further gunfire was heard by listeners. It was believed that the Graf von Spee was attempting to escape to a neutral Uruguayan port.

The Montevideo correspondent of the United Press of America says that the Graf von Spec's attack on the Ajax is reported to have opened the fight. The Achilles was off Pirlapolis defending a French liner. Twelve shots were heard by those on the Punta Del Este lightship in the first engagement. When the firing ceased a smoke pall blotted out the Graf von Spee, and the Ajax was seen steaming westward toward Rio de la Plata. The Uruguayan cruiser Uruguay on neutrality patrol was eight miles away. The British Legation at Montevideo announces that it is understood that the Achilles and Ajax engaged a German pocket battleship off the Uruguayan coast. The Buenos Aires correspondent of the Associated Press of America, says that there was further gunfire after the ships disappeared gradually working up to a crescendo at 8.15 p.m., Montevideo time. The Graf von Spee anchored in the Montevideo outer harbour shortly before midnight. Her superstructure Is badly damaged. She has 30 dead and 60 wounded. The British Admiralty announces that the British submarine which sighted the Bremen sunk a U-boat and torpedoed an enemy cruiser in the North Sea.

Built with others as Germany's answer to naval limitations, the Graf von Spee is similar to the Deutschland and the Admiral Scheer. She is a 10,300-ton vessel, powered by diesel engines, and cost about £3.500,000. Because the Versailles Treaty forced Germany to build small ships rare technical ability was shown in the construction of these pocketbatt', eships. For their limited tonnage they are saiu to be able to outfigb* and outrun anything of similar size sent against them.

The Graf von Spee corresponds roughly in size to the British “County” class cruisers. She carries six 11-inch and eight 6-inch guns, compared with the British vessel's eight 8-inch and four 4-inch. The weight of th* Graf von Spec's broadside is about 44201 b, compared with the British cruiser’s 20001 b.

Equally important is the German raider’s cruising ability, for ith her economical diesel etngines, she lias a radius of at least 18,000 miles, compared with the British's vessel’s 10,400 miles. Official British sources, however, discount this figure, nor do they believe the report that the Graf von Spee and the Admiral Scheer have 12-inch guns. Advantage of Range

Thus the German pocket-battleship can outfight anything except a capital ship. The Graf von Spee is supposed to have a maximum speed of 26

knots, and although a British cruiser of comparable size can cover 321 knots, the German has the advantage of gun range. Because so much has been crammed into their 10,000 tons, these German raiders have shown bad faults in operation. In fact, soon after they were launched, each of the three vessels had to undergo extensive alterations. The diesel engines, unusual for a battleship, also give trouble.

In her armour, the Graf von Spee, like the others in her class, is plated with 5Mn belts, with 7in turret armour and Ilin to 3in decks. In addition to her normal armaments, she carries six 3.9 in anti-aircraft guns.

It might well require a squadron to round up one of these raiders. From time to time, they reveal their positions by sinking or capturing vessels to renew supplies, but before capture the raider can do immense damage on the shipping lanes, for she is l.ere to-day and gone to-morrow.