SHELLING OF SHIP.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 200, 24 July 1937, Page 9

SHELLING OF SHIP.

REFUGEES ABOARD.

QUESTIONS IN THE HOUSE

‘ LONDON, July 23. A Santander message says that insurgent warships fired eight or nine shells at the British steamer Macgregor after leaving Santander for France with two thousand refugees aboard. Some fell close, but the Macgregor held boidly on her course until well clear of the three-mile limit, when a British destroyer closed in for protection. This is the first time a reiugee ship has been fired on when refugees have been aboard.

According to a London cablegram the Santander correspondent of the Times says five of the shots were fired at the Macgregor when inside the threemile limit and the others when outside. In the House of Commons the First Lord of the Admiralty (Mr Duff Cooper) replying to Mr Weugwood Benn, who complained of lack of protection for British merchant ships entering Spanish territorial waters to evacuate refugees, •said: “These refugee ships, are volunteers, just as much as those volunteers from Italy', Gennany, England and France who are allegedly fighting for either side. They are participating in the war. Do they’ expect the British navy to see thqm safely into harbour? What is it Mr Wedgwood Benn suggests?” .Mr Wedgwood Benn: Common humanity’. Mr Duff Cooper: Common humanity in this cass would mean firing on Spanish ships, entering the war and risking the lives of British sailors for a cause which nobody in Britain outside the Labour Party thinks worth fighting for. He emphasised that the British Government would protect British ships on the high seas, but when they entered territorial waters they forfeited the right of British protection.

WARNING SHOTS ONLY. BRITISH OFFICIAL REPORT. (British Official Wireless.) lleceived July 24. 11.55 a.m. RUGBY, July 23. The Macgregor had 1500 refugees aboard from Santander when she was signalled to stop by the Ahnirnnte Cervera, which subsequently fired several warning shots, but all were well clear of the ship. The Macgregor nevertheless proceeded and passed out of territorial waters, when she immediately came under the protection of the British destroyer Kempenfeldt and proceeded on her way without further interference.

The captain of the Almirante Cervera then signalled that tlie Macgregor, by not obeying the order to stop, had taken advantage of his humanitarian feelings, but lie was not taking further action. British naval reports make it clear that til© Almirante Cervera fired warning shots only and did not make an attempt to hit the Macgregor.

SHELLING DENIED. LONDON, July 23. The Admiralty later reported that the MacGregor was not shelled; the Almirante Cervera only fired three shots across her bows in an attempt to stoji her.