以身殉舰(英中对照)

古德明《征服英语》之英语军事故事，古德明，香港英语教育作家，他开了一个《征服英语专栏》，在专栏中专门用英语写了世界近代史上的军事小故事，用英语讲述历史中那些惊心动魄的战争。
以身殉舰
hans langsdorff, commander of the german cruiser admiral graf spee, had orders to raid enemy commercial shipping in the south atlantic at the outbreak of word warⅡ. as he always gave warning before sinking allied merchantmen, no seamen were killed.
on 13 december 1939, the graf spee was intercepted by three british cruisers, and after more than an hour's intense combat was severely damaged. it retreated to uruguay, with the british cruisers in hot pursuit. the neutral uruguayan government, under pressure from the allies, ordered the graf spee to leave uruguayan waters even though the necessary repairs were not completed.

rather than let his ship fall into enemy hands, langsdorff blew up the graf spee. he and his crew were taken to argentina, where he shot himself, forestalling any allegations of cowardice. he was buried in buenos aires, and among the mourners were british officers.
第二次世界大战爆发时，德国巡洋舰斯比上将号司令官汉斯．兰斯多夫奉命袭击同盟国在南大西洋的商船。他击沉敌国商船之前，总会发出警告，因此没有水手丧命。
一九三九年十二月十三日，斯比上将号遭三艘英国巡洋舰截击，激战超过一小时，受创严重，退至乌拉圭，英国巡洋舰穷追不舍。中立的乌拉圭政府受到同盟国压力，不待斯比上将号修理好，就下令这艘战船离开乌拉圭水域。
为免斯比上将号落入敌人手上，兰斯多夫把船炸毁。他和手下一起被送到阿根廷之后，他开枪自杀，塞住了可能指摘他怯懦的悠悠人口。他下葬布宜诺斯艾利斯，英国军官也有出席丧礼。