MORE WARFARE REPORTED IN MEDITERRANEAN

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22193, 9 September 1937, Page 11

MORE WARFARE REPORTED IN MEDITERRANEAN

British Tanker Attacked By Unknown Warship

ALLEGED SINKING OF ITALIAN HOSPITAL SHIP

Rebel Cruiser and Government Vessels In Fierce Naval Battle

(UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPTBIGHT.) (Received September 8, 11.30 p.m.) LONDON, September 8. Lloyd's agent at Tunis has telegraphed that the British tanker Harpa, which was sailing from Fort Said to Lagoulette, was attacked by an unknown warship. A torpedo was fired but missed. A Rome message says an Italian hospital ship, carrying wounded from Santander, is reported to have been sunk by an unknown submarine. A message from Algiers states that a fierce battle, the result of which is not known, occurred to the west of Algiers, between the rebel cruiser, Canarias, and a Loyalist force consisting of two cruisers and five destroyers, which were convoying merchantmen. One of the merchantmen, the Aldecoa, was run ashore to «scape the gunfire of the Canarias, and was wrecked on the rocks. The vessel was carrying 300 tons of explosives. The French authorities dispatched a seaplane and two destroyers to the scene of the battle to protect coastal shipping.

NEW OFFENSIVE AT MADRID

INSURGENTS REPULSED ON ALL SECTORS 0

GOVERNMENT TROOPS REGAIN LOST GROUND

(Received September 8, 11 p.m.) MADRID, September 7. The insurgents launched an offensive west of Madrid,, but were repulsed on all sectors. The Government forces were temporarily driven back in the northwest, but successfully counter-at-tacked and regained the lost ground.

RELEASE OF BRITISH SHIPS

STATEMENT ISSUED BY REBEL FORCES

(Received September 8, 7.5 p.m.) HENDAYE, September 7. The steamers Moltan and Candleatone Castle will be released in a lew days. The Candlestone Castle, of 2494 tons, was seized off Santander on July 18, and was believed to have been taken to Ferroi under rebel escort. Her owner stated that she was going to Santander to remove refugees when she was intercepted within the three-mile limit. 1 The seizure of the Candlestone Castle caused the sudden departure of the Royal Oak and the Basilisk from St. Jean de Luz. m , The Almirante Cervera signalled the Moltan, 3091 tons, to stop when she was inside territorial waters on her way to Santander. She later proceeded on an altered course as directed by the cruiser.

DENMARK PROTESTS TO FRANCO

INDEMNITY FOR SUNKEN SHIP v DEMANDED

(Received September 8, 7.5 p.m.) COPENHAGEN, September 7. The Danish Government has protested to General Franco against the sinking of the Danish vessel Edith, and is demanding an indemnity.

INFANT MORTALITY IN BRITAIN

REVIEW BY MINISTER FOR HEALTH

(BiIITISII OrrtCtAh WIHELBSS.) RUGBY, September 7. Speaking at the beginning of his official visit to South Wales, the Minister for Health (Sir Kingsley Wood) said that infantile mortality 1 in England and Wales remained at a low level, and during the last 10 years it had been less than half what it was at the beginning of the century. The change was largely caused by the efforts of the State and local authorities in improving the environment of the child. One of the best signs of the , time was that young people were becoming more and more health-minded. Nutrition must also play an increasingly important part in national health provisions and plans for mothers and children, he continued.

FRENCH OPINION ON NOTE

SOVIET ACTION HELD "INOPPORTUNE"

CLAIM TO HAVE IDENTIFIED SUBMARINES

(Received September 9, 12.50 a.m.) PARIS, September 8. M. Leon Blum's newspaper, "Populaire." says: "Russia is only voicing what all the world knows. "We are even in a position to state that the submarines concerned were Italian craft of the Archimede type. "Nevertheless, the Soviet Note is inopportune."

BRITISH CONSUL AT SANTANDER

RETURNING TO RESUME DUTIES

(BBITIBB OTJICIAL WISEIJEBB.) RUGBY, September 7. The British Consul at Santander (Mr Thomas Bates), who organised the evacuation of a number of refugees before the fall of the town to the insurgent forces, and was himself taken off by a destroyer on the eve of the insurgent occupation, is now on his way back to resume his duties there.