Montevideo, Dec. 18.
Two terrific explosions of the ship's munitions stores tore gaping holes in her heavily armoured sides and the ship began to sink slowly and evenly tuntit water rushed into the hold. The ship then listed sharply" until her stern was under water. Minor explosions, believed to have been tor~ does, could be heard just before the ship sink.
The German Embassy last night issued copies of a letter written to the Uruguayan Government yesterday by the commander of the Graf Spec who said he saw no alternative but sink his ship. The letter com: plained against the failure of the Uruguayan Government to permit the Graf Spee sufficient time to repair damages suffered in the naval battle with three British cruisers last week.
Immediately after the frst explo: sions all available ships in the port the spot where the burning. Among. thi ships "were the Uruguayan cruiser Uruguay and the Argentine gunboat Libertad.
Diplomatic quarters disclosed last night that German oMciais here fused to accept either internment of the Uruguayan ultimatum ordering the Graf Spee to leave Montevideo within 72 hours—United Press,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.