REBELS FIRE ON BRITISH YACHT

Greymouth Evening Star, 11 August 1936, Page 7

REBELS FIRE ON BRITISH YACHT

CAPTAIN KILLED

“MAD-DOG” CRUISER

[BY CABLE —PBESS ASSN. —COPYBIGHT.]

LONDON, August 10.

Captain Rupert Saville, aged 45, a retired Royal Air Force officer, was killed, and his, American wife was wounded, not seriously, by a rebel shell while they were cruising in their yacht Blue Shadow off Gijon, northern Spain. The British torpedo boat Comet came to the rescue and took off the passengers.

Captain Saville put into Gijon for repairs after grounding outside the harbour, but was warned that the rebel warship Almirante Cervera was approaching to resume the bombardment of the town. He put to sea. The warship mistook the Blue Shadow for a Government vessel and fired several necessitated the immediate abandonnecessitated the immedaite abandonment of the yacht. ; The Almirante Cervera had already severely damaged the town ' and killed and wounded hundreds* im a week’s, bombardment with eight-inch guns; The officer commanding the Almirafite Cervera sent a wireless message of profound regret to the British Embassy.

Reports from Hendaye say that the warship "Was apparently firing at anything it could see and hit the Blue Shadow a mile away.

Captain Saville was the second English civil war victim, the first being Mr Fernander, an inspector of the Ford Company, who was shot in a street at Barcelona last month.

WIDOW RECOVERING.

RUGBY, August 10.

It is’reported from St. Jean De Luz, where Mrs. Savile is in hospital, that her condition is satisfactory, and her recovery is expected. She was wounded in both legs by shrapnel. Another Press message states that the Spanish authorities tendered an expression of their sincerest regrets to the Commander of H.M.S. Comet on the death of Captain Savile and the wounding of his wife, although the Almirante Cervera, from which the shell was fired, is a ship which deserted to the insurgents.

.■ Some anxiety has been felt for the staff and students of the English College at Valladolid, from whom there had been no news since July 20. The British Consul at Vigo has now heard they are safe and do not desire evacuation.

AMBASSADOR’S PROTEST.

(Received August 11, 11 a.m.) MADRID, August 10.

The British Ambasasdor has protested to the Spanish Government against the shelling of the Blue Shadow, and reserves the right to claim compensation.

Tho Spanish authorities apologised for the rebels shelling the Blue Shadow. The British authorities are disposed to think that the cruiser was unaware that it hit the yacht. Visibility was bad at the time.

ARGENTINE’S ACTION.

NEW YORK, August 9

The Buenos Aires correspondent of the “New York Times” says the Argentine Government to-day indicated that it was prepared to force a new and perhaps significant issue in the Spanish rebellion. The navy’s crack cruiser, Veinticino de Mayor, is speeding toward Spain with orders to evacuate the Argentine Ambassador, Senor Mansilla, several Argentinians, and five Spanish rebels who are now virtual prisoners at the summer em- ■ bassy of Zaruaz, near Sian Sebastian. On an old-established Spanish-Ameri-can theses, diplomats have the right to extend asylum to revolutionaries. According to information here, a British warship recently attempted to evacuate Senor Mansilla, but he insisted that the rebels had the right to accompany him, to which the Spanish authorities refused to agree. According to Government officials here, the Veinticino de Mayo carries a full fighting complement of men on a war footing, and the commander has categorical instructions to remove Senor Mansilla and whoever may be with him.

GERMAN PLANE CAPTURED?

(Received August 11, 1 p.m.) LONDON, August 10

A report that the Spanish War Ministry had captured a .German Junkers ae/oplane. laden with munitions, near Badajos, elicited a denial from the German Embassy that the pilot and three passengers were Germans. Nevertheless, it is also reported that four other German machines were detained.

Two German torpedo boats have left for Spain, in consequence of the detention of the Lufthansas. BERLIN, August 10.

The Air Ministry denies knowledge that any German aeroplane was sent to Spain, other than Lufthansas for the evacuation of refugees.

REBEL LOSS

MADRID, August 10.

The Government forces are elated with the capture from the rebels of the town of Lugones, with munitions factory. This should precipitate the surrender of neighbouring Oviedo.

BADAJOZ INVESTED.

(Recd. August 11, 2 p.m.) LONDON, August 10.

The centre of military activity has been shifted to Badajoz, which the rebels are slowly investing, having occupied the surrounding heights. Its capture will give them control of the sector south-west of Madrid, and facilitate a junction with the rebels in the Caceres Province.

PREMIER’S RESIGNATION?

LONDON, August 10.

A Lisbon message says that the rebel radio station at Tetuan announces, “with all reserve,” the reported resignation of the Prime Minister of Spain, Senor Giraf, in favour of Senor Prieto, who is a moderate socialist.

POWERS’ NON-INTERVENTION.

GERMAN- DENIALS.

[BRITISH OFFICIAL WIRELESS.]

RUGBY, August 10.

Stories that the German battleship, Deutschland, landed bombs at Ceuta, that a German liner is now on the way from Hamburg, carrying bombing aeroplanes to the insurgents, and that Germany intends to land marines at Barcelona, as a demonstration, were all denied by Herr Bielfeldt, German Charge d’Affaires at London. The French proposal for a general agreement of non-intervention in Spain is still under consideration at 1 Berlin, Rome and Lisbon. The British Government, through its diplomatic representatives at these capitals, strongly supported the French proposals. Although recognising the communication made by the German Charge d’Affaires does not in itself constitute an official reply to the French de Marche, newspapers in Paris and London express much satisfaction at Germany’s undertaking to associate herself with the first aim of the French policy, which is fully endorsed by the British Government, namely, to prevent either the Spanish Government or antagonists from acquiring further supplies of munitions of war. The French Government is keeping the British Government informed regarding the progress of its enquiries concerning non-intervention in Spain, and it,MS understood these reports, indicate a .generally favourable reception of’ the formula tentatively put forward by the French, for prohibition of the export of arms, munitions, aeroplanes, both military and civil, to any parties to the Spanish conflict. In some cases, points of detail remain for negotiations but an agreement in principle by the chief interested Powers may be said to be in sight. The difficulties of several Governments appear to be that they would desire to go further, rather than reluctance to go as far as the French suggestions. It will always be possible to supplement the agreement, and . in London, the view is expressed that the urgency obtaining acceptance first of the essentials of non-inter-vention is so great, if widely recognised dangers of the present situation are to be avoided, that it is unlikely any Power will wish to postpone practical results in search of perfection. Hope is entertained therefore, that the declarations by the chief interested Governments, in the sense urged • by France, will not now be long delayed.

PORTUGAL’S PROBLEM.

LISBON, August 10.

Prominent rebel sympathisers at present in Lisbon are exerting pressure on Portugal to support the insurgents, stressing that her geographical position will leave her helpless against a Red Spain. Britain has hinted that the longstanding Anglo-Portugese alliance will be best, served by the strictest neutrality. Neither side reports any decisive movement. The Government is concentrating upon controlling the Straits of Gibraltar, to prevent the transfer of further native troops. The Hendaye miners, skilled in handling dynamite, constructed a catapult to hurl dynamite against the rebel barracks at Oviedo, and demolished the walls. The rebel commander sent a wireless message to Mola, for help. He fears that he will be unable to hold out much longer.

RUSSIA AND ITALY.

(Recd. August 11, 2 p-.m.) LONDON, August 10.

The Russian and Italian Governments have replied favourably to France’s non-intervention proposals.

RUSSIAN NEUTRALITY

LONDON, August 10.

A Moscow message says that' the Press has ceased to publish resolutions voting funds to the Spanish loyalists, and has ceased referring to assistance for the Government.

GIBRALTAR NEUTRALITY.

GIBRALTAR, August 10.

The Governor has warned every inhabitant to refrain from publicly displaying sympathy with either party of refugees, thus abusing British hospitality. Offenders are threatened with expulsion from Gibraltar.

THE POPE’S PROTEST.

(Received August 11, 11 a.m.) • VATICAN CITY, August 10.

The Pope has energetically protested to the Spanish Government against the murders of priests, ejections of nuns from hospitals, the burning of churches, and the profanation of bodies.

EX-KING ALFONSO.

LONDON, August 10.

The Vienna correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph” says that ex-King Alfonso arrived unexpectedly from Czechoslovakia, accompanied by two Spanish couriers, who were sent to Czechoslovakia on August 7. The aeroplane in which the couriers travelled was detained in Czechoslovakia. The pilot, Mr Owen Cathcart-Jones, demanded its surrender, declaring that he would hold the authorities responsible for the loss incurred through the delay. Ex-King Alfonso intends to spend a holiday in the Austrian lake district.