The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-12-07
Cruiser CarnarvOn Castle That Fought Nazi Raider
 Now Nearing Port MAY HAVE ABOARD
 SEIZED GERMAN CREW British Want That Nazi Raider; Naval Battle May
 Be the Result
BY RICARDO ALVAREZ

United Press Staff Correspondent
 Montevideo, Uruguay, De- cember 7.- UP) = Officers of the Uruguayan cruiser Uruguay said today that the British battleship Warspite, 30,6OO tons, was speeding northward in an attempt to intercept a German sea raider which was engaged two days ago by the British auxiliary cruiser Carnarvon Castle.
 Apparently in good condition, the Carnarvon Castle, steaming on an even keel and with her superstruc- ture intact, passed Punta Del Este today on her way to Montevideo to discharge wounded and repair damage suffered in a long range engagement with the German raider. The cruiser Uruguay returned from Atlantic coast patrol duty and here officers said they had sighted the Warspite at sea at full speed and O11 a 11OTtIlWdIQ CUuTSc.
 Snmxngned From Base
 They expressed belief that the Warspite may have been summoned from her base in the Falkland Is- lands by an urgent call based on the operations of the raider.
 The WarSpite is fitted as flag ship and although constructed in 1913 she has 8 speed of 24 knots, believed faster than the German raider, which some British quarters have estimated as having speed of about 19 knots.
 (Jane's Fighting Ships says of the Warspite that it "steams splen- didly and can maintain high average speed for long periods. ?
 The WarSpite was modernized extensively in 1897 and her 15-inch guns were increased to 30-degree elevation during the reconstruction She has a radius of action of about 4,400 miles and has complement of about 1,200 officers and men. She carries four aircraft and catapult' and in addition to eight 15-inch guns she mounts eight six-inch guns and eight four inch anti-aircraft guns.
 The Carnarvon Castle, former luxury liner of 20,122 tons, was due to arrive in Montevideo about 5 p. m.
 Excitement High.
 Excitement ran high along the waterfront. There were reports that the German ship involved was a pocket battleship; that British warships were after it and that a major naval battle in the vicinity was imminent. The British lega- tion here refused comment but the 2,9e1-ton British steamer Argentine, which mounts two guns on its stern. returned to port few hours after sailing yesterday and some persons interpreted this to mean that the British were preparing for a battle in this vicinity and wanted their ships out of the way.
 Although the British Admiralty had identified the German ship az La fast raider disguised as . mer- chant ship" the report was wisie- spread here that the ship actually was a sister to the pocket battle ship Graf Spec, which is a charred derelict just outside the harbor here.
 May Have Crew AbO3rd.
 By a strange turn of events. is was believed that the CarnarvOn Castle might be bringing back some of the former Graf Spec crew. It was recalled that the Brazilian steamer Itape was stopped by the Carnarvon Castle December { and 9 of its German passengers, re- portedly including some escapees from the interned Graf Spec creWn were taken aboard. It was believed now that the German raider hunted down the Carnarvon Castle for re
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