The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1939-12-16
Sunday Night at 6 P. N.
They Must Quit Urua-
quay or Be informed
BRITISH, FRENCH ON
DEATH WATCH GUARD
People of MontevideO jOf
Belief German Battle
ship to Make Run Out
BY RICARDO ALVAREZ


UNITED Press staff Correspondent
Montevideo, Uruguay, De.
cember 16. - (UP) - Nine
hundred officers and men
aboard the German pocket
battleship Admiral Graf Spec
faced today the alternatives
Of q suicide dash to sea into
the guns OF an Allied fleet
or the interment Of their
proud ship for the duration
Of the European war.
Sunday night Q D. M, EST,
according 10 authoritative reports
was the deadline.
II was reported that the British
cruiser squadrons which had kept
the death watch on the Graf Spe,
steaining back and forth just out-
side Uruguayan territorial waters,
had now become an Allied fleet.
II was reported, though not con@
firmed, that the French battloshin
Dunkerque, faster, larger, mere
powerful In every way than the
Graf Spec, had arrived and yves
standing by.
The British battleship Harham
was reported IN the vicinity.
British reports indicated that the
battle cruiser Renown and the arr
craft carrier Ark Royal - with 60
fighting planes aboard - were
steaming at forced draft 70 b
In OF the kin II the Graf Spec made
It's dash.
Blow Spec TO Bits
According to oil reports, Britain.
or Britain and France combined,
now had off the mouth Of the river
Plate O fleet which should blow
the Graf Spec 10 bits II It made the
desperate choice Of trying 10 break
for safety. ny
The Uruguayan government had
made Its decision yesterday, ct .
cabinet meeting, that the Graf Spec
must 90.
It was understood that q 72-hour
period for lie departure dated from
the hour, 9 .. m. (EST) Thursday,
that an official Uruguayan naval
commission, after O two hour inspec-
ton OF the Graf, reported 10 the
government On It's seaworthiness.
The decision was not announced
Officially, though II was published
late last night by the semi officIal
newspaper II Debate, which has
three cabinets ministers on it,
board Of directors. e
Foreign Minister Alberto duani.
explaining the absence OF a formal
announcement, intimated that the
governments silence was q matter
OF ethics, In order that II might not
appear 70 be denouncing German
ship. perhaps sending II 10 ix
death.
ship Unseawerthy
The Germans had said that the
ships kitchen bad been wrecked, it
was understood, and that there was
other damage rendering the ship
unseaworthy.
British Minister Eugene Mlliing-
ton-Drake was reported to have said
that though the lack OF an adequate
kitchen might make things incon-
venient FOR the Germans, IL did not
make the Graf unseaworthy.
Information had been received b.
the United Press that the 0raft
ll-inch gun control tower had been
wrecked during the battle with the
British Exeter, Ajax and Achilles.
The Graf Spec would not be enc
titled TO have this control tower res
paired.
AS indication that the Dritisls
were watching Developments with
the greatest attention, the British
minister sought O conference with
Foreign Minister ouani last mid
night.
As part Of its diplomatic work.
the Uruguayan government sought
In cooperation with other Amer
lean Republics to make the battle
OF Montevideo the last one Of the
war OF the coasts Of the American
continent.
Panama Neutrality
The foreign ONCE announced late
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