SHELLED AND DRIVEN ASHORE

Northern Advocate, 30 March 1937, Page 5

SHELLED AND DRIVEN ASHORE

CIVIL WAR

Coal Ship Attacked by

Rebel Cruiser

(Received 10 a.m.)

LONDON, March 29. &

The Mar Castio, 3080 tons, frolh Newcastle, coal laden for a French factory at Bayonne, was driven ashore after being shelled by an insurgent auxiliary cruiser within sight of Cape Breton. The ship was allegedly machinegunned after landing. Two of the crew were burned from bursting steam pipes. The vessel is aground at the mouth of the Ardour River. She broke in two at high tide, and is a total loss,’ including a cargo valued at £30,000.

French authorities have ordered a Stringent inquiry particularly regarding the invasion of French territorial waters. Rebel warships, firing six shells, stopped the British steamer Magdalena (3118 tons), near Santander, en route from Lagoulette, Tunisia, to Bayonne, whither. she was allowed to-proceed after disclosing her identity. Franco’s Warning. -

“The Times” diplomatic correspondent says General Franco’s headquarters at Salamanca broadcast a warning that British steamers should speedily respond to any signals from rebel war-

ships. . He explained that foreign ships carrying arms had been hoisting the British flag in order to escape investigation. The British Government feels that a prompt reply in Spanish territorial waters is advisable, but will not tolerate the stoppage of British steamers on the high seas for search. Cruiser Fires a Shell. The French steamer Imerethie 11. (3,713 tons), when steaming past Cape de la Nao, on the east coast of Spain at dawn on Thursday, was haiied by the rebel cruiser Canarias and ordered to stop. Blank shots were fired across her bow. The captain of the steamer replied that he was going to Alicante to bring off refugees and refused to stop. . Thereupon, the Canarias fired a shell. The captain of the Imerethie then reported the situation to the French cruiser Suffren, which was in the vicinity and the Canarias sheered off. The Suffren arrived and escorted the Imerethie to her destination. Thirty officers and men at Tetuan aircraft station were shot dead for complicity in a conspiracy against the rebel command.