WARSHIP SUNK

Grey River Argus, 3 May 1937, Page 5

WARSHIP SUNK

BY AEROPLANE’S BOMB

In Bilbao Roadstead

(Aus & NZ Cable Assn.) BILBAO, April 30

It is officially confirmed that -a Government aeroplane sank thc rebel battleship Espana, Thc official account of the. sinking of the Espana states that the Loyalist squadron went out to assist a merchantman of unknown nationality, which was appealing for ■help by wireless when stopped by -insurgents. Another account says that the Espana was summoned by an insurgent destroyer, which fired twelve shots at a British vessel, the name of which is at present unknown, attempting to- enter Santander. Several squadrons of Government planes, called up the Santander authorities, dropped powerful bombs, one hitting the Espana’s stern, which was immediately submerged. The battleship sank in half an hour. It is believed that thc Espana’s personnel included German and Italian officers and gunners. The merchantman, after the sinking of the Espana, returned to Santander.

LONDON. April 30

A Santander message, says: An aerial bomb penetrating the magazine sank the Espana, the successful plane being one of the Santander’s new air fleet. The British freighter on which the Velasco was firing was the Knitsley. formerly the Thorpe Hall, homeward bound with minerals, but the Velasco and the Espana also threatened other merchantmen.

Thc Velasco escaped to sea after rescuing the officers of the Espana. It would have allowed the seamen to perish, only Santander fishing boats saving them. The Espana, before bombing Bilbao harbour yesterday, sent out a wireless warning that British merchantmen were sure to be bombed and machinegunned if they ventured into the harbour. This is considered to indicate that the Germans deliberately sought targets.

The battleship Resolution is Io proceed to north Spanish waters, whereshe will relieve the cruiser Shropshire. When the Resolutioon arrives, there will be, for the first time, two British battleships, thc Resolution and the Royal Oak, in the northern Spanish' area.

"YOU CAN’T STOP ME!”

LONDON, May 1

The Bilbao correspondent of "The Times” says: The Espana signalled the Knitsley (formerly the Thorpe Hall) to stop, just outside of the threemile limit- To this the Knitsley -replied: "You can’t stop me! I’m British ! ’ ’

Attack on Bilbao

BY BOMBER PLANES-

(Received May 2. 7-30 p.m.) LONDON, May 1

A Bilbao message states: Three insurgent planes, which, apparently, were of Italian manufacture, dropped two 1 bbmbsi on Bilbao, and a third one in a park, killing a boy- Five other bombs fell about the British destroyer Faulknor. The Faulknor was anchored in the outer, harbour at Bilbao. On Saturday, everyone in Bilbao remained at worik. ,

REPORT DENIED.

OF LANDING OF GERMAN TROOPS

LONDON. May 2The Berlin News Agency denies that any German troops have beea landed at San Sebastian. LONDON, May 1- ’ A Bilbao message states: The captains of nine British vessels have agreed to evacuate as many children as possible, probably five thousandDestroyers will carry othersA British food-ship, the Staneourt, has arrived at Bilbao.

BILBAO EVACUATION PLANS.

RUGBY, April 30

Sir ■ John Simon, Home Secretary, replying to a proposal made by a humanitarian organisation that a number of Basque children should be brought to Britain, said he would grant the required facilities providing the number brought was in accordance with the voluntarily subscribed funds at the disposal of the committee. The lady organiser of the committee left London by air for Saint Jean De Luz yesterday, to assist the preparations there for the transportation if the children can be brought there. Miss Megan Lloyd George has circularised thousands of women’s Liberal organisations, soliciting aid to evacuate Bilbao refugee children, many of whom ar e already homeless orphans. PARIS, April 30.

The Foreign Office announces that France and Britain has agreed to facilitate the evacuation of several thousand civilians from Bilbao.

Britain is making an effort to secure General Franco’s promise not to fire on the refugee ships. The Government, according to M. Delbos’s statement in the Senate, is co-ordinating with Britain in the plans for evacuation of refugees from everywhere necessary in Basque territory.

Advance on Bilbao STRONGER OPPOSITION. SECURED.

LONDON, April 30.

The rebels have- made no further advance on the Bilbao front. Th e defenders have been strongly reinforced with men and material.

An insurgent bombardment of Bilbao, Amorebieta, Galdacano and other villages behind the front is expected to be the prelude to an intensive destruction, similar to that of Guernica and Eibar, with thc object of preparing for an advance by powerful mechanised divisions of infantry. GERMAN ’PLANES. “TIMES’ ” CORRESPONDENT’S REPORT. LONDON, April 30. The Bilbao correspondent of “The Times” says that German Junker bombers and Heinkel fighting aeroplanes are again very active. They are intermittently bombing the city and circling leisurely over the population in the hope of securing, a moral effect by

these methods. Associated with this is the consistent dissemination of false news with a view to correcting the evil effect on foreign opinion of the previous outrages. Thus, although Durango is full of bombholes, all the churches have holes in their roofs, 'and every house in the' neighbourhood of the churches is shattered, it is blandly asserted that it was the work of a Marxist mob. Yet the dead number 200, including 14 nuns, who were ma-chine-gunned from the air as they ran across a convent garden. Every wall, moreover, is nicked with machine-gun bullets. But there is no Marxist mob in Durango. Similarly, when Eiber was burnt the blame was placed on Asturian miners, who were never quartered there. When Guernica was destroyed the insurgents alleged that an anarchist militia, presumably aided by priests, started the fire. The priests, in fact, led- the hopeless rescue work. It is clear that the damage was done by “Parajos negros” (blackbirds) th e current Spanish phrase for Junker bombers.

QUESTIONS IN COMMONS.

LONDON, April 30

In the Commons, replying, to Mr Dalton’s question, drawing attention to General Mola’s declaration he intended to raze Bilbao, Mr Eden announced that" the British Ambassador had been instructed to report urgently whether there was foundation for believing the insurgents contemplated such action. Mr Eden repeated his concern over the bombing of civilians and added the Government was anxiously considering action to prevent a recurrence and was urgently examining methods of co-op-eration' with other Governments. Ho hoped to make a statement shortly. Sir A. Sinclair drew attention to reports of destruction of another town, and th e machine-gunning of fugitives. He. asked what was the. effect on the non-intervention agreement. Mr Eden said he had given a carefully considered reply. The Government must be allowed a little time to decide the method of approaching the problem.