“RECEIVED SOME HITS”

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVII, Issue 21529, 16 December 1939, Page 9

“RECEIVED SOME HITS”

Nazis Claim Complete Victory Damaged Raider Tells Different Story United Press Association Fr-'r»nt Telegraph —Copyright (Received December 15, 8.24 p.m.) MONTEVIDEO, December 14. A Berlin message states that the German High Command announced that “the Graf Spee received some hits and is for the moment in harbour at Montevideo. Two of the six British captains aboard were taken prisoner the day before the battle after their ships were sunk.'* According to the Official Berlin News Agency, latest Montevideo dispatches state, that the Graf Spee shows no signs of damage and life aboard is normal. The control towers and hull are intact. Other German reports continue shamelessly to claim a complete victory. Thus, the semi-official “Deutscher Dienst” states that the Ajax fled and the Exeter was shelled to pieces, while other reports claim that the Achilles was sunk. The Berlin radio, on the other hand admits that the Graf Spee was hit several times, but put the Exeter out of action and heavily damaged one other cruiser. It is reported from Berlin that an authorised spokesman confirmed that the pocket-battleship was the Graf Spee and not the Admiral Scheer. London sources, however, are still doubtful of the ship's identity. It is suspected that one pocketbattleship has been changing her name frequently since she escaped from Germany, operating one day as the Admiral von Scheer and another as the Graf Spee. The German authorities are in a predicament. No announcement was made until to-night, when the German Embassy at Montevideo issued a statement that the Graf Spee was forced into port by lack of fuel, and not because of damage.

The Gorman casualties, according to this statement, were caused by the use

of mustard gas by the British cruisers, this spoiling the food on board. At the same time the official German radio station in Berlin gave it out that the British had used mustard gas shells in the action against the Graf Spee This allegation was directly answered by the Prime Minister (Mr Neville Chamberlain) in the House of Commons. “This characteristic statement is entirely without foundation,” he said. “No gas shells or grenades have been made for or used by any of his Majesty’s ships.” The German Official News Agency in Berlin released a dispatch, ostensibly from Buenos Aires, stating: “The news of a successful naval engagement of a German warship with several British cruisers has made an enormous Impression. It was not thought possible that a German warship’ could break the British blockade and appear on this side of the Atlantic, which is dominated by the British Navy. The only British reports of the engagement so far available are I obviously aimed at minimising the British losses, but it is established that the German warship caused heavy I losses and damage to the British | cruisers, forcing part of them to fall | out of the action and seek safety at ; Montevideo. “This German naval victory is regarded as important, because it proves that the Germany Navy is able to hold its own, even in the most remote zone, against a force far superior in numbers. All reports confirm that the British used mustard gas, this spoiling the German vessel’s food That was the reason the German warship also anchored off Montevideo.” No Reports Received The British Admiralty this evening issued the following communique: "No reports have been received of the killed and wounded in the British ships which took part in the sharp action yesterday off Montevideo. These will be published at the earliest moment. “In spite of the damage which caused the Exeter to drop out of the engagement, two small 6-inch gun cruisers pursued the German pocket battleship into the River Plate and now await her in the estuary, where they have been strongly reinforced. It must be understood that very large forces have been employed for many weeks in searching the vast spaces of the South Atlantic, both by sea and air, and much time and disi appointments were inevitable before the raider could be found. Little Success “It is remarkable how little hindrance the Graf Spee has been able to inflict upon the movements of hundreds of ships through these waters during the two months she has been at large. Compared with the mischief wrought by the Emden, her depredations have been petty. “As soon as details of the action are received, the Admiralty will publish a further statement dealing with the

conduct of the officers and men who, under the command of Commodore Harwood, encountered and chased from the sea a vessel so much superior in weight of metal.” In this connection, it is interesting to note that the pocket-battleship with six 11-inch guns firing projectiles of 7161 b each, and four 5.9-inch guns firing projectiles of 1031 b each, has a broadside of 47081 b. The combined broadsides of the three British cruisers which engaged the Graf Spee are 31361 b. The Exeter with six 8-inch guns firing projectiles of 2561 b each has a broadside of 15361 b.