REBEL WARSHIP SUNK

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22082, 3 May 1937, Page 9

REBEL WARSHIP SUNK

BLOCKADING VESSELS DRIVEN OFF HUNDREDS BELIEVED TO BE DROWNED (UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION- -COPYRIGHT.) (Received May 2, 5.5 p.m.) MADRID, April 30. A message from Santander says that the Espana, the first warship in history to be sunk by aircraft, lies in 30 fathoms of water three miles off Cape Mayor, near Santander. It is believed that 600 of her company of 800 are lost. The whole incident was observed by crowds clustered on the seafront. The Government attacking aircraft were three bombing aeroplanes escorted by fighters; Three coastal batteries opened fire, but the bombing aeroplanes dropped seven very powerful missiles, two of which struck the Espana’s stern. With a huge burst of smoke and an appalling explosion, the Espana slowly heaved up by the bows and sank, hundreds of the crew flinging themselves into the sea. They were mostly school teachers and clerks, who were unable, through lack of experience, to laurfch the boats, in spite of the calmness of the sea. The Government bombing aeroplanes, their pilots flushed with success, followed their achievement by seeking out the Almirante Cervera and bombing her, but they failed to hit the target. Jubilation in Bilbao The correspondent of “The Times” at Bilbao learns that the bombing aeroplanes had no difficulty in locating the Almirante Cervera, because immediately after the latter learned of the Espana disaster she went at full speed eastwards. She was reported at 3.30 «p.m. by an alert signaller at Cape Mayor to be 55 miles east of Santander. The bombing aeroplanes had time to drop only three bombs when the Almirante Cervera, remembering the fate of her consort, fired off all her “Archies” and departed northwards. . , . The Bilbao evening papers jubilantly displayed the news of the sinking of the Espana, and sent cars tearing through the town placarded with the words; “Espana in halves. Blockading fleet scared. Remainder sails into the blue.” An official account of the sinking of the Espana states that a loyalist squadron went ■ out to assist a merchantman which was appealing for help by wireless when she was stooped by the insurgents, , . Another account states that the Espana was summoned by th£ insurgent destroyer Velasco, which firea 12 shots at a British vessel when it was attempting to enter Santander. Several squadrons of Government aeroplanes which were called up by the Santander authorities dropped powerful bombs, one hitting the Epnana’s stern, which immediately submerged The battleship sank in half an hour. _ It is believed that the Espana’s personnel included German and Italian officers and gunners. Destroyer Escapes The merchantman, after the sinking of the Espana. returned to Santander. ,' ' A message from Santander states that •an aerial bomb which penetrated the magazine, sank the Espana, the successful aeroplane being one of Santander’s new air fleet. The British freighter on which the Velasco was firing was* the Knitsley, formerly the Thorpe Hall, which was homeward bound ’With minerals, but the Velasco and Espana also threatened other merchantmen. The Espana signalled the Knitsley -to stop just outside the three mile limit, to which the Knitsley replied; “You can’t stop me. Im British.” , A The Velasco escaped to sea after rescuing the officers of the Espana; It would have allowed the seamen to perish, only Santander fishing boats saved them, . _ , The Knitsley berthed at Castro Urdiales, 30 miles east of Santander. The captain, obedient to the Admiralty’s orders, was uncommunicative. but a sailor disclosed that hardly had the Velasco stopped the Knitsley, with the Espana half a mile off, when the Government aeroplanes came info action. A further report states that .the Government destroyer Alsedo seized a rebel steamer off Gibraltar with a cargo“bf 100 aeroplane engines and 40,000 rounds of ammunition, BOMBS DROPPED ON BILBAO Five fall near British DESTROYER LONDON, May 1. A Bilbao message states that three insurgent aeroplanes, apparently of Italian manufacture, dropped two bombs on Bilbao, and a third in a park, killing a boy. Five other bombs fell about the British destroyer Faulknor, anchored in the outer harbour. The British foodship gtancourt has arrived, THREE N.Z. NURSES TO GO TO SPAIN (PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEQEAfI.) r DUNEDIN, May 1. The secretary of the Spanish Relief Committee announced to-day the choice of three nurses to go to Spain. They are Sister Shadbolt (Auckland), Nurse Sharpies (Levin), and Nurse Dodds (Wellington).