Dove and Langsdorff disagree over the sinking position

Captain Patrick Dove maintained that Africa Shell was inside Portuguese territorial waters, while Hans Langsdorff treated the vessel as being in international waters. That disagreement determined whether Graf Spee had lawfully attacked a merchant ship or violated a neutral state's jurisdiction. Langsdorff told Dove he could lodge a complaint after the ship had already been sunk. The episode therefore turns on position, neutrality, and a raider captain's judgment.