PRISON FOR GRAF SPEE’S CREW

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVIII, Issue 21624, 9 April 1940, Page 7

PRISON FOR GRAF SPEE’S CREW

Efforts To Escape To Germany United Press Association—By Eectrlo Telegraph—Copyright LONDON. April 6. Tile Buenos Aire, correspondent of the British United Press states that one member of the crew of the scuttled German battleship, Graf Spee, who were interned by the Argentine authorities, is reported to have made his escape to Germany with documents from the Graf Spee. It is revealed that numerous attempts to escape have been made by members of the crew. Th Buencs Aires "irrespondent of the “New York Times” states that all the officers and half the crew of the Graf Spee have received orders that they will soon be confined to the naval prison on Martin Garcia Island in the River Plate. From then on they will be treated as prisoners instead of as interned seamen. This drastic action is the result of Government irritation caused through a breach of Argentine hospitality by members of the Graf Spee’s personnel, and. specifically, by the disclosure of the escape of three officers, including a commander and two sailors, and the persistent refusal by two officers to pledge their honour not to escape. The Argentine Government ireued a statement explaining its action as follows: “Argentina has been excessively generous to these officers . . . We cannot allow our neu.rality to be jeopardised and therefore we are ensuring that they shall be unable to return to resume belligerent action.”