Battle of the River Plate, The Page #7

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I'm glad you're all right.

I'd like to say thanks for everything.

You've done the best for us

and I can only wish you the best for yourself.

Thank you.

Give my wishes to the others.

- Wish them a happy Christmas.

- I will.

These are...

...from the caps of two of my men that fell in battle.

Souvenir.

Oh, thanks very much.

Is there anything else I can do?

If you wouldn't mind telling me, sir,

what happened?

Yes.

We er... Sighted two destroyers and another ship.

It wasn't till we closed with them

that I realised they were cruisers.

By that time, we'd already joined them in battle.

I couldn't take my eyes off them.

They came at me like destroyers.

They kept coming at me.

I couldn't believe that they'd dare do this

unless they were supported by bigger ships.

I thought they were trying to drive me out

into the guns of bigger ships.

Would you mind telling me their names, sir?

Yes.

The Ajax, the Achilles and the Exeter.

- It couln't be Woodic. It couln't be

- I tell you it is.

GCT reports a three-funnel cruiser, sir.

It is the Cumberland.

- It's a miracle.

- Miracle or not, sir, we can do with her.

How the blazes did she manage

to steam 1,000 miles in 35 hours?

Chief Yeoman. Mind yourself, son.

Flag deck.

Make to Cumberland.

"How did you

get here so quickly?"

Cumberland answering, sir.

- Apple.

- A.

- Nuts.

- N.

- Tommy.

- ANT...?

- Isaac.

- ANTI...?

Charlie.

Anticipation!

Hooray!

Qu'est-ce que vous pensez de a?

Nous 'avons bas.

De quoi discuter.

Pourrait-on diner demain? Vous tes libre?

Je serais enchant de vous voir, toujours,

vous et la chre Lady Effie.

Captain Langsdorff.

Heil Hitler!

Let's forget formalities, gentlemen.

- You are well aware of the facts.

- Let me see if I have got them right.

Early yesterday morning, off Punta del Este,

a naval battle took place.

The German pocket battleship Admiral Graf

Spee was engaged by three British cruisers,

the Exeter, the Ajax and the Achilles,

in course of this engagement

the German battleship gained a victory.

The British cruiser Exeter

was seen to be shot to pieces,

and the other British cruisers fled.

The Graf Spee received a few minor hits

and then proceeded to...

That is not correct.

No?

No. The Graf Spee suffered serious damage.

She is not seaworthy.

This is the communique of your government,

quoted by your own official agency.

Issued today at 1315 Greenwich Mean Time.

Your Excellency knows that in wartime

official news must take into consideration,

the psychology of the people,

the maintenance of morale.

Captain Langsdorff,

how would you assess the damage to your ship?

My galleys have been destroyed.

I cannot feed my men.

As for the other damage, you sent a technical

commission on board. I gave them every help.

I have their report. How much time would you

say was necessary to make you seaworthy?

In my assessment, two to three weeks.

At least two weeks.

My commission suggests 48 hours.

What?!

But there are 64 hits

on the superstructure alone.

In view of this, my government has decided

to grant an extension of 72 hours

in order to render your ship,

the Admiral Graf Spee, seaworthy.

The time limit being 8 pm

on Sunday 17th December

but prohibiting in accordance with the articels

of the 13th Hague Convention,

any repairs with the purpose of increasing

the fighting strength of the vessel.

I most strongly protest.

I note your protest.

Captain McCall, sir.

- Carry on, sir?

- Yes, please.

Let go forward. Let go aft. Bear off.

- Hello, sir.

- Hello, McCall. Very glad to see you.

- You know Woodhouse.

- Hello, Woodhouse.

- Medley, my staff officer.

- Hello, Medley.

- Hello.

Good morning, gentlemen.

- Harwood, I...

- Come on. Come on over here.

Now, McCall, you've got to stop her sailing.

Stop her? But we've been moving heaven and

earth to get the Uruguayans to throw her out.

- We've persuaded them.

- Well, now you can un-persuade them.

You've got to keep her here.

But how can I now, sir?

That's up to you and Martin.

Use every possible means.

Invoke the 24-hour rule. Anything.

Look...

My three ships aren't enough

to make the issue certain.

You know how long it took us to corner her,

and the mouth of this river is 100 miles wide.

Well, if she gets away again...

And she might, she might!

I was very lucky on the 13th.

I'm not sure I'll be so lucky a second time.

I see.

The Admiralty have ordered a concentration

on Montevideo, all hunting groups.

Here, Medley.

But just you look at the chart.

- Force K.

- Renown and Ark Royal.

600 miles east of Pernambuco.

- 2,500 miles away.

- They'll have to refuel at Rio.

Sunday, Monday,...

- ...Tuesday, hm?

- Mm.

Tuesday is the earliest they can be here.

Neptune and the French Force X

are even farther.

Dorsetshire left Cape Town Wednesday.

4,000 miles to steam.

You see?

You've got to keep her here till Tuesday at least.

- Well, we'd better get moving.

- That's the spirit.

Warn the boat's crew and get my golf clubs.

Poor old Millington-Drake!

His face when I put him into reverse!

- How's he doing?

- A wonderful job. Taken them all in his stride,

the Ministry of Marine,

Defence, the Foreign Office.

He's at 'em, day and night,

waving the Hague Convention.

By George, yes.

Luisi, Campos, Guani.

Why, I was playing golf with Campos and Luisi

only a few days ago.

And talking of golf, look at my clubs.

Are those clubs?

Toothpicks. That's all they are now.

One shell took all their heads off.

Good shooting, eh?

On a fairground,

it would have won a teddy bear.

Well, don't let the captain of the port

arrest you for smuggling.

Tell him I'll bring him some gin

in a few weeks' time.

You know, sir, that the South American states

claim all the River Plate as territorial waters?

All of it, between Punta Medanos

and Punta del Este.

Yes, I do.

Suppose the Graf Spee does make a break

for Buenos Aires. Will you try stop her?

McCall, I was never much good on a horse,

but I know the drill.

Don't take your fences until you have to.

- Goodbye, sir.

- Goodbye.

Good luck.

Excuse me, sir.

This has just come through for the commodore.

Thank you.

Medley, make a signal to Admiralty

from Commodore, South Atlantic.

- Make your pardon, sir, that signal is incorrect.

- I haven't said anything yet.

You have, sir.

I said, "Make a signal to Admiralty."

What's wrong with that?

You went on to say,

"From Commodore, South Atlantic."

Well, I...

I am Commodore Harwood, aren't I?

No, sir. You are Rear Admiral Sir Henry

Harwood, Knight Commander of the Bath.

My congratulations, sir.

Sir.

Oh, I say.

What's the matter? Bad news?

I've been made a Companion of the Bath.

So have Parry and Bell.

Look at us!

One Commander, one Companion of the Bath,

and not a blinking bathtub between us!

I shall never be any good after this

as an ordinary naval attache.

Who cares?

You realise you're asking me,

for your own evil ends, to violate one of...

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