Evening star., 1939-12-14
Chamberlain Lauds
Gallant Action in
South Atlantic
League Action Against
Russia Also Praised
By Prime Minister
n the Associated Press.

- the ASSOCIATED FIcbS
LONDON, Dec. 14.-Prime Minis
ter Chamberlain declared today
that ''the gallant action" of three
comparatively small British ships
against a much more heavily armed
adversary" probably would free the
South Atlantic from depredations
of the German raider Admiral Graf
Spec.
Lauding the League of Nations
action in condemning Russia for the
invasion of Finland, Mr.. Chamber
lain told the House Of Commons that
Germany alone among the nations
even now is abeting by word and
deed the Russian aggression"
1--WE must give what help and sup
port we can to the latest victim Of
these destructive forces" the Prime
Minister said, but meanwhile it is
only by concentrating on our task
of resistance to German aggression
and thus attacking the evil at its
root that we can hope to save the
nations of Europe from the fate
which otherwise must overtake
them"
Battle of Severe Character"
He told the House that battle of
"seyere character" had been fought
In the South Atlantic between the
Admiral Graf Spec and the British
cruisers Exeter, Achilles and Ajax,
and that the Exeter had been forced
out of the fight.
1.-TWO six-inch gun cruisers, how
ever, continued the pursuit" he con-
tinued amid cheers. land about
midnight the German ship, which
turned out to be the Admiral Graf
Spec, carrying six 11inch guns, took
refuge within territorial waters and
is now anchored off Montevideo.
In his final war review before
Parliament's Christmas recess, Mr..
Chamberlain declared that "the
Finnish Army has proved itself by
far the better fighting force in
anything but numbers"
Gas Charges Denied.
In confident tones Mr.. Chamber
lain's review touched on the visit OF
King George to British troops in
France, flight of British planes over
German naval bases, the sinking OF
another German submarine and the
South Atlantic naval engagement.
He indignantly denied German
charges that the British used mus
tard gas shells in the battle OF
Uruguay.
This characteristic statement is,
of course, entirely without founda-
ton" the Prime Minister said. mo
gas shells or grenades have ever
been made for or used by any ships
Of the navy"
Turning to Finland, Mr.. Chamber
lain said that while strongly con-
demning Soviet aggression" the
British government believes every
effort should be made to utilize
League machinery for peaceful set
tlement of the dispute and, If that
should prove impossible, for afford
ing practical assistance to the VIC
tim of aggression"
Admiralty Statement.
The admiralty issued COM
munioue denying the British
used mustard gas in the battle with
the German pocket battleship Ad-
miral Graf Spec.
The communique said:
press reports quote the German
legation in Montevideo as stating
that casualties on board the Graf
Spec were mostly caused because the
British used mustard gas grenades
This allegation is entirely with
out foundation. No mustard gas
grenades or shells ever have been
made for or used by the Royal
Navy"
Naval sources said the German
pocket battleship had been chang
ing it's name frequently and that it
was difficult to distinguish among
the three sister ships of that type
the Admiral Graf Spec, Admiral
Scheer and Deutschland.
ElatiOn in London.
The British naval sources said
that if the German ship were not
interned by Uruguay, British war
ships should be able to prevent its
egress and doubtless the British
Minister will look after our inter-
ests."
News of the naval battle caused
more elation in London than any
previous single event of the war.
Despite the customary blackout,
crowds formed in the streets up to
8 am. to buy late newspapers with
fuller details of the fight.
Newspaper editorial comment,
sharp yesterday over failure Of a
British submarine to attack the
German liner Bremen in the North
Sea, praised the navy enthusiastic
cally for its action in the South
Atlantic.