FURTHER THREAT

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 144, 21 June 1938, Page 9

FURTHER THREAT

BOMBING OF SHIPS

SPANISH NATIONALISTS

PIRATES CARRYING CONTRABAND

(United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.)

BURGOS, June 20.

A threat of further bombings of foreign ships in republican ports was made today by the Nationalist Minister of the Interior.

"Pirate ships carrying contraband," said the Minister, "are extending their radius of action to Africa and transporting contraband to Alicante and Cartagena. Our sea and air ' force will destroy them wherever they are found."

OFFICIAL REVIEW

ATTACKS ON BRITISH SHIPS (Received June 21, 1.10 p.m.) LONDON, June 20. In the House of Commons the Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Mr. R. A. Butler, said that three British ships had been sunk, ten seriously damaged, and 43 damaged to a less degree in the course of attacks by aircraft since the beginning of the civil war in Spain. Twenty-three lives had been lost in these attacks, at least thirteen of them being Britishers. Five protests had been addressed to General Franco.

50 BOMBS DROPPED

BARCELONA SHAKEN (Received June 21, 9.50 ajn.) BARCELONA,' June 20. Deafening explosions early this morning shook the city, which was twice raided by insurgent bombers. Six planes innocuously dropped 50 bombs. It is revealed that during the raids on Sunday the American steamer Wisconsin was hit on the bridge and on the port deck. The interior was wrecked and it will be necessary to tow her from port. There were no casualties.

BOMBING EFFECTS

HARBOURS AND RAILWAY STATIONS VALENCIA, June 20. Valencia harbour is obstructed by sunken vessels, two of which are in the harbour mouth. The mole at Alicante has been broken in two by bombing, and a munition factory and a powder magazine destroyed. The railway stations at Mediodia and Murcia have also been destroyed.

COMMISSION PLAN

REPORTS ON BOMBINGS

(British Official Wireless.) (Received June 21, 11.10 a.m.)

RUGBY, June 20.

The Under-Secretary, of Foreign Affairs, Mr. R. A. Butler, announced in the House of Commons that arrangements are nearing completion for the early dispatch to France of a commission consisting of British, Swedish, and Norwegian experts to report on aerial bombardments in Spain.

The commission, whose headquarters will probably be at Toulouse, will be prepared to proceed to any part of Spain at the request of either side in Spain and report on facts concerning bombardments by air of towns or villages.