Nazi Warships Said To Be Concentrating Near Gibraltar

Northern Advocate, 25 June 1937, Page 5

Nazi Warships Said To Be Concentrating Near Gibraltar

Report Should Be Received With Reserve, Says Mr. Eden

; , (Received 2 p.m.) ' , ■ , RUGBY," June 24. Eden, in answer to a question in the House of 'Commons, suggested that reports on German naval movements eastwards In the Mediterranean should be received with great reserve. Official information received by the Admiralty did not confirm it, nor had the Non-Intervention Committee received information confirming the report of the arrival of Italian troops ir> Malaga and other Spanish ports. British ships patrolling the Malaga area made no report tending to show that any such development had occurred. A Spanish Press agency, in a message from Gibraltar, states that 15 German warships are concentrating near Gibraltar and Tangier, Mqrocco. A German cruise r and three destroyers were anchored off Algeciras on Tuesday, and boats were seen plying between 1 the ship and the deserted beach. Rumours of the landing of men and material are not confirmed. A message from Berlin states that, according to the Naval Department, there are only three cruisers— N urenberg, Karlsrughe and Leipzig—three torpedo boats and four submarines in Spanish waters.

The Admiral Scheer is replacing the Leipzig and the submarines are to return shortly.

Whitehall Watchful. Germany’s assurance that the Leipzig incident is closed is accepted with misgivings at Whitehall, which is anxiously watchful. It is thought that Germany may possibly be persuaded to moderation and to a right policy, but the presence of her ships in the Mediterranean is dangerous; especially as her withdrawal from the naval control scheme means that Italy and Germany have ho longer legal right to stop merchantmen. The Berlin correspondent of “The Times” declares that the Nazis do not conceal their fear that another winter campaign will be difficult for General Franco. Press Attacks on Mr Eden. There have been signs that Herr Hitler believes the internal troubles In Russia favour a bold anti-Soviet offensive. The Press is filled with bitter denunciations of British shamelessness and hypocrisy, 1 A message from France states that France is prepared to replace Italian and German naval control, if Britain will co-operate. -The French fleet has been ordered to be prepared. The German Ambassador to Britain, Herr von Ribbentrop, has arrived in Berlin from London. The British Foreign Secretary, Mr Eden, has been subjected to concentrated attacks in the Berlin Press.