GHASTLY ERROR

Hawera Star, Volume L, 27 October 1930, Page 5

GHASTLY ERROR

GERMAN LINER SHELLED 21 KILLED; 71 INJURED BRAZILIAN FORT’S ACTION REBELS' ABJECT APOLOGY. United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph Copyright.) RIO DE JANEIRO, Oct. 25.One of the most ghastly tragedies growing out of the Brazilian revolution occurred late last night when 21 persons were killed and 71 others wore seriously injured by a shell fired from the Federal fortress at Santa Clara upon the German passenger skill Baden, wnieh was trying to slip out of the harbour without proper clearance. Eighteen of the dead and 35 of the wounded are women and children. Four of the dead are members of the crew. The steamer had arrived only yesterday morning and was continuing her voyage to Buenos A.ii-os after a short visit, leaving the docks at 3 o’clock in the afternoon. Santa Clara is at the mouth of the harbour. It was instructed to stop the ship. Three blank shots were fired by the fort and Captain Roaelin of the Baden was also signalled to stop, but he did not heave to and a high explosive shot was fired, hitting a group of passengers massed in the forepart; of the ship, chiefly Spanish immigrants for the Argentina. The ship then returned to dock.

One of the most pitiful sights was a stretcher carrying off a small child in the arms of its mother, both being killed by the same shell fragment. The new administration has hastened to dispatch an abject apology to Germany for firing on the steamer. The explanation is that it was a terrible mistake in misinterpreting the instructions that no one was to leave the city until the new Government was installed.

The captain of the Baden has been placed under arrest, the police blaming him for not responding to orders.

The German Ambassador, on instructions from Berlin, began an immediate inquiry. The captain declared he did not realise the significance of the warning shot, as the fortress had been firing all the morning during the progress of the overturn of the Government.

The Ministry of Justice asserted that the Baden was not flying the German colours and the fortress was not aware of her nationality. The captain, however, insists that he was flying the colours.