Fierce Battle Off Gibraltar: Cruisers And Destroyers
GIBRALTAR, August 27, The Spanish Republican destroyer, Jose Luis Diaz, which left Le Havre on August 20 after undergoing repairs entered Gibraltar harbour today seriously damaged after a 'fierce battle lasting two and a half hours, with Nationalist warships in the Straits of Gibraltar. Twenty of the destroyer’s crew were killed andl4 injured. The engagement took place at night, the Nationalist vessel' encountered being the 10,000 ton cruiser Canarias and three destroyers. The victims aboard the Jose Luis Diaz were mostly drowned wlien the forward compartments ’ were flooded. Under cover of darkness, and not showing lights, the crippled warship escaped to Gibraltar, where she has been berthed in the shallow, as it is feared! she may sink. Captain Castro, commander, says he sank two Nationalist trawlers after taking prisoner their crews, numbering 24. These men were placed in f irons in the destroyer’s forepeak, where a shell from the Canarias later exploded, and all the prisoners were killed or drowned. In addition two members of the crew were killed and six were lest overboard.
Captain Castro says his opponents consisted of the Can arias, four destroyers and two torpedo boats, including the Italian destroyers Aquila and Falco.
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Bibliographic details
Northern Advocate, 29 August 1938, Page 7
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204Fierce Battle Off Gibraltar: Cruisers And Destroyers Northern Advocate, 29 August 1938, Page 7
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