TAUNTED WITH BEING A COWARD

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 302, 22 December 1939, Page 7

TAUNTED WITH BEING A COWARD

GRAF SPEE’S COMMANDER COMMITS SUICIDE IN BUENOS AIRES COLD RECEPTION OF CREW IN ARGENTINE <By Telegraph Press Association—Copyright; Received Dec. 21, 5.5 p.m. NEW YORK. Dec. 20. Captain Hans Langsdorff, commander of the scuttled German pocket battleship Graf Spec, committed suicide, states the Buenos Aires correspondent of the American United Press. He was found by his aide, shot dead in the immigrants' hotel. The Buenos Aires correspondent of the United Press of America reports that Commander Langsdorff wrapped i himself in a German flag before com--1 milting suicide. It is presumed he 'used his own pistol, as Argentine officials later explained that the i officers were not relieved of their ' swords and pistols because it was conI sidered they were personal adornments and not belligerent weapons. Commander Langsdorff’s body is lying in state at the Argentine naval arsenal for burial with full military honours in the German cemetery at 6 p.m. to-morrow. Captain Dove, of the merchant vessel Africa Shell, in a tribute to Commander Langsdorff, said there was no mercy from him when fighting, but when he was not fighting he was a fine gentleman. A PSYCHOLOGICAL ERROR. The Montevideo correspondent of the New York Tinies states that Commander Langsdorff made a serious psychological error which contributed heavily to his depression. He mistook Montevideo’s homage to the dead members of his crew as a great and popular Latin expression of approval of what he and his sailors stood for, and went to Buenos Aires expecting to be welcomed with open arms. Instead, he found popular feeling so cold that he was convinced Argentina would be an unpleasant place to live in. Ho was convinced that the crew would be received as shipwrecked sailors and expected to get them to Germany aboard Italian steamers bound for- Trieste. Internment destroyed his dream, while Argentine newspapers taunted him with being a coward and a traitor to the traditions of the sea. The New York Times, in an editorial, says; "To Nazi Germany the Graf Spec’s and Commander Langsdorf's end may be glorious, but it is a glory won at the price of tradition and respect for other men, nations and, perhaps eventually, of German naval morale.” ) Colonel Frederick Palmer, military expert., writing for the North American Newspaper Alliance, says that naval history records no greater humiliation than Commander LangscLorff’s. The writer adds: "Corporal Hitler may find the ‘Storm Troop’ method ineffective in the navy. When the time comes, will he, too, be able to pull a trigger on himself?” ASSOCIATES EXPECTED IT. German associates said they expected Captaiii Hans Langsdorff to suicide since the order believed to be received directly from Adolf Hitler forced him ignominiously to scuttle the Graf Spee instead of re-mining the battle as desired. Captain Langsdorff calle# ail I his officers to his hotel and chatted for three hours. Shortly after midnight he rose and circled the room handshaking each, then retired, requesting not to be disturbed. His confreres said that none present doubted they were speaking to their commander lor the last time. ! At 8.30 a.m. an aide discovered the body on the bed. Then* was a bullet, through the temple. Three I letters were addressed to the German Embassy, his wife and parents. It is a mystery where he obtained the revoiver since the Germans were all dis- | armed. XX A M ED TO SHAKE HIS SHIP'S DESTINY. i Captain Langsdorff left a letter ’stating that from the first moment he ! decided to share the destiny of his :ship, but he postponed it. until he was I assured of the safety of the crew. The Argentine Government had deI creed the internment of Captain Langsdorff of the Graf Spee. “GERMAN NAVY UNDERSTANDS” A Gorman Naval High Command communique states; “The navy understands aivl esteems Commander Langsdorff’s act. As a fighter he did what the Fuhrer, the German people and the navy expected. He was faithful to an ancient tradition and followed his ship.” GRAF SPEEE STILL BURNING ■SI NK IN TERRITORIAL WATERS. NEW YORK, Dec. 20. ' Ii is understood in Montevideo that the official report of the Uruguayan authorities claims that the Graf Spee was sunk inside territorial waters. She is still burning. The authorities are also guarding the German oil tankers Tacoma, because it is alleged that she has valulable instruments taken from the Graf Spee.