STEAMER BOMBING

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 58, Issue 192, 27 May 1938, Page 5

STEAMER BOMBING

THE CAPTAIN UNDAUNTED. “THEY CANNOT FRIGHTEN ME.” TWO ON BOARD WOUNDED. (United Press Association—Copyright., (Received This Day, 11.25 a.m.) LONDON, May 26. A message from Barcelona, states that the bombing of the British freight steamer Thorpe Hall wounded the first officer and an Irish non-intervention official. The British United Press correspondent at Madrid, in a telephone interview with Captain Andrews, master of the Thorpe Hall, at Valencia, says that the latter declared: “I am out for revenge and will return immediately a fresh ship is available. They cannot frighten me.” Captain Andrews divides his disgust between General Franco for disregarding the rights of neutrals, and the British Government for “favouring General Franco.”

BRITISH CAPTAIN DETAINED.

CHARGE OF CARRYING CONTRABAND.

LONDON, May 25. It is reported from Gibraltar that Captain Scott, master of the Louden steamer Stancroft, lias been detained on a charge of carrying a prohibited article to Spain.

As the result of information from the Non-Intervention Board the British destroyer Hyperion stopped the London steamer Stancroft on tlie high seas between Barcelona and' Valencia on May 13, and escorted her to Gibraltar, wlier her cargo was to be examined. It was alleged that the Stancroft was carrying arms to'Spain. Her master, • Captain Scott, was one of those who cabled to Mr Lloyd George from Spain protesting because the British Government took no action against; the rebels after the air raid on Barcelona on April* 30, when, they asserted, all the bombs fell close to the British vessels then in the port. The Stancroft, a steamer of 1470 tons, is one of a fleet owned by the Stanhope Steamship Company, Ltd., of London, and trading to Spanish ports. Several of the company’s vessels, including the Stanlake, the Stanbrook, and the Stanhope, have suffered damage and in some cases injuries to the crews during the bombing of Barcelona and Valencia.

AIR-RAID ON ALICANTE. DEATHS AMONG CIVILIANS. CARNAGE IN CENTRE OF CITY. VALENCIA, May 26. The air-raid on Alicante lasted 20 minutes. More than 100 bombs were dropped by six aircraft, and 50 buildings were destroyed. Two bombs exploded in the marketplace, which was crowded with women. The worst damage was done in the centre of the town. The port was •also bombed, but none of the five British ships in harbour was hit. The consular corps, representing 18 nations, collectively presented condolences to the civil governor, and decided to fly flags at half-mast for three days as a protest against the raid. The diplomatic corps also telegraphed a protest to General Franco against the bombing of non-military objectives, pointing out that only civilians were killed.

The raid is the most frightful since Barcelona. Tho carnage in the centre of the city is a terrible sight. Tho recovery of bodies will take days.

The raiders added to the terror by swooping low and machine-gunning the crowded streets.

Republican and insurgent communiques are so conflicting that it is impossible accurately to sum up the trend of operations on the Catalan front. Each side is consistently denying the other’s claims. It is known, however, that heavy fighting continues over a wide area, with substantial losses on both sides. DEATHROLL THREE HUNDRED. BURIAL WITHOUT CEREMONY. (Received This Day, 12.40 p.m.) MADRID, May 26. The deathroll at Alicante totals 300, about 200 of whom were buried without ceremony. The extrication of the corpses from the wreckage continues.