“ACT OF PIRACY”

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 110, 3 February 1938, Page 11

“ACT OF PIRACY”

Sinking Of British Ship By Spanish Rebels DESTROYERS search Nyon Pact Signatories Meet In London \ By Telegraph.—Press Assn. —Copyright. (Received February 2, 7.25 p.m.) London, February 2. The “Daily Mail” says that ambassadors and naval attaches representing signatories to the Nyon Pact will meet at London to-day to discuss the sinking of the British ship, Endymion, by Spanish rebels. Only Britain, France and Italy will be represented at the beginning of the discussion, but later other signatories may be called in. Major Powers will also discuss the bombing of open towns in Spain, 'lhe British Government is acting quickly in order to avert a recurrence of piracy. The diplomatic correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph” understands that Britain has asked for immediate consultations with France and Italy, w’ith whom she shares the responsibility for carrying out the anti-submarine patrol in the Mediterranean. The Ambassadors, M. Corbin (France) and Count Grand! (Italy), meet the British Foreign Secretary, Mr. Anthony Eden, and the British experts on February 2, and Cabinet will later examine the entire circumstances. “Serious View.” According to an earlier message, the British Government takes a serious view of the sinking of the Endymion. The attack is regarded as an act of piracy. The First Lord of the Admiralty, Mr. Duff Cooper, said in the House of Commons that the Endymion was many miles from the nearest route recommended under the Nyon arrangement and carried no wireless. The Government is increasing the patrol immediately. Four British destroyers are searching for the insurgent submarine which sank the Endymion. The Admiralty stated that H.M.S. Fortune, Firedrake, Fury and Forester, which were on anti-piracy duty at the time, had been rushed to the scene of the attack. Three Britishers ■were among the Endymion’s victims, namely, the master, Adolphus Charles Verand and his wife, and the second engineer, who is unnamed, and also a Swedish observer, Charles M. Larsson. ITALY ACCUSED Warships And Submarines For Franco London, February 1. The Spanish Ambassador in London has sent a Note to the British Foreign Office accusing Italy of extensive naval assistance to General Franco, “in patent violation of international pledges.” He asserts that the Italian Government has given the insurgents the destroyers Aquila and Falco, which are sailing under the Monarchist flag and have been renamed Velasco Ceuta and Velasco Melila. The rebels are also said to have received the destroyer Alessandro Poerio and Gulielmo Pepe under identical conditions, but it is not known what they have been renamed. The Note adds that two submarines which have been assigned to the rebel naval base at Soller, Majorca, are carrying rebel flags and that the crews have renamed them Mola and San Jurjo. The Embassy, in an additional Press statement, refers to newspaper statements that the British steamer Endymion was sunk by a rebel submarine, and states: "The Spanish Government categorically denies that the rebels have any submarines of their own, and it must be clear to the whole world that Italian submarines are committing these acts of piracy.” ALLEGATION DENIED (Received February 2, 8.40 p.m.) London, February 2. ' The “Daily Telegraph’s” Rome correspondent says that naval circles deny knowledge of any Italian destroyer serving under General Franco’s flag and add, regarding the report that an Italian submarine sank the Endymion, that no Italian submarines are in Italian waters. ITALIAN HELP 50,000 Troops, Equipment For Spain (Received February 2, 7.25 p.m.) London, February 2. The “News Chronicle” says that Signor Mussolini is reported to have completed preparations of a new army of 50,000 soldiers, with artillery and mechanised equipment, which is going to Spain within a fortnight. Il Duce believes that Britain and France will not lift a hand to stop him. Even if they repeat the comparative severity momentarily shown at Nyon' they will be too late, as the troops will already be in Spain. APPEAL BY FRANCE Effort To End Bombing J Atrocities Paris, February 1. The Premier (M. Chautemps), following the bombing of Barcelona by the Spanish rebels, announces that lie and the Foreign Minister, M. Delbos, will ask all nations to join France in ending such atrocities. ’ REBELS CHECKED Cordoba Offensive (Received February 2, 5.5 p.m.) St. Jean-de-Luz, February 1. The loyalists report that they have completely the rebel offensive at Cordoba. A .Salamanca message states that it is announced that 6SOO more Moors have arrived iu Spain.