Aerial Bombing of British Ships

Northern Advocate, 25 January 1939, Page 7

Aerial Bombing of British Ships

(Received 1.30 p.m.) RUGBY, January 24,

Confirmation is still awaited in London of press reports of attacks during the week-end by Spanish Insurgent aircraft on British ships. Four are reported ' have been damaged during the raids on Barcelona, and a Lloyds’ agency message states that when seven miles off the coast the British steamer Stanbrook was attacked from the air on three occasions, but received no damage.

Mr Eden’s Concern.

Grave concern at the developments in Spain were expressed by Mr Anthony Eden in a speech at Coventry. General Franco, he said, was advancing on Barcelona by reason of air power and artillery power more formidable than the civil war had yet seen.

Everyone knew who provided this armament and who continued to provide it in open violation of agreements and pacts, “The truth is that certain States, though pledged to non-intervention, are intervening on a scale they deem sufficient to ensure victory for General Franco. and declare that if France dares to do even a fraction of what they are doing, they will reconsider the situation.

“How can dictation of this kind proIde a basis for true friendships?” Mr Eden asked. Socialists Seek Intervention.

On behalf of the London Socialistic Party and the London Trades Council, Mr Robert Morrison (Labour-Hack-ney South) in a letter to Mr Chamberlain asked that in the interests of world liberty, the British policy regarding 'the Spanish civil war should be reconsidered.