BOMBED AT SEA.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 20, 25 January 1939, Page 11

BOMBED AT SEA.

BRITISH STEAMER. Three Attacks While Seven Miles Off Spain. REPORTS OP OTHER RAIDS. British Official Wireless. (Received 12 noon.) RUGBY, January 24. LnS nfirm ? t V, m is still "•■•« i ted in dSw-.? PI T reports ot ' ***** ™£X • We £ k - em J bv S P anisl > insurgent aircraft on British ships. Four are reported to have been damaged during the raids on Barcelona, and a Lloyd's agency message states that when seven miles off the coast, the British steamer Stanbrook was attacked nom the air on three occasions, but received no damage. Grave concern at the developments in Njiaui was expressed by Mr. Anthony Men m a speech at Coventry. General Franco, he said, was advancing on Barcelona by reason of air power and artillery power more formidable than this civil war had yet seen. Kveryone knew who provided this armament and who continued to provide it in open violation of agreements and pacts. "The truth is that certain Mates, though pledged to non-interven-t.„.i, are intervening on a scale thev deem sufficient to ensure victory for General Franco, and declare that if France dares to do even a fraction of what they are doing they will reconsider the situation. How could dictation of that kind provide a basis for true friendship?" he asked.

On behalf of the London Socialist party and the London Trades Council, Mr. Herbert Morrison (Lab., Hackney South), in a letter to Mr. Chamberlain. asks thnt in the interests of world liberty, the British policy regarding the Spanish civil war should be reconsidered. Aid for Refugees. The British Government is making an immediate payment of £20,000 to the International Commission for the assistance of. child refugees in Spain. This payment is an advance in respect to a further contribution to the funds of the commission, the amount of which has not yet been specified. The British Government has already given £20.000 to the funds, which also received £25,000 from other Governments, and wheat from the United States to the value of £37,000. In addition other Governments have already I promised further contributions, totalling | £85,000, while the United States has promised to send wheat to the probable .value of £00,000 for six months. FRENCH PLANS. Action If Duce Remains In Spain After War Ends. SEIZURE OF MINORCA. Independent Cable Service. LONDON, January 24. Significantly, the Chief of the French General Staff, General Gamelin, and the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice-Admiral Darlan, have postponed their tour of France's North African defences and remained in Paris to watch the Spanish situation, says a message from Paris. The French General Staff has presented to the Prime Minister, M. Daladier, a plan for the seizure of Minorca and Spanish Morocco if Signor | Mussolini does not quit Spain immediately the war ends. The Paris correspondent of the "Daily Express" |>oints out that positions on the Spanish mainland such as Cartagena and Alicante could also be occupied. Minorca could be taken over without trouble, as the Government would certainly rather hand the island over to France than to General Franco. The Foreign Minister, M. Bonnet, is expected to define France's attitude when replying to-night to the foreign affairs debate in the Chamber. M. Blum will follow M. Bonnet .as the spearhead of the Opposition's attempt to force the opening of the frontier. M. Daladier will reply for the Government. It is understood the theme of his speech will be "no adventures and no abandonments." It is expected that a vote'of confidence will be sought on Thursday. BERLIN "WARNING. An Astonishing and Dangerous Suggestion. SEIZING OF MINORCA. (Received 1,30 p.m.) BERLIN, January 24. The "Diplomatic Correspondence" warns against the suggestion that France seize Minorca and Bpanish Morocco, which it describes as an astonishing and dangerous suggestion, showing either a disregard for realities or an irresponsible attempt at aggravation.