INTERNED DESTROYER

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXII, 31 December 1938, Page 10

INTERNED DESTROYER

DESCRIPTION OF ENCOUNTER UFA -Hy Electrio Telegraph-Copy right’. (Received 31st December, 11.35 a.m.) LONDON, 30th December. The Gibraltar correspondent of the British United Press Association says that a member of the crew of the Jose Luis Diez states that the vessel, after repairing the damage due to the en- I counter on 27th December, was awaiting a chance to slip through the insurgents cordon outside Gibraltar owing to the expiration cf the time limit which Britain had imposed for sanctuary. “As the Jose Luis Diez crept out without lights I saw a house in Gibraltar sending up rockets, suggesting signalling, whereupon the rebels attacked. The Jose Luis Diez retaliated with six torpedoes, then headed for refuge in British waters. “The rebels continued to attack, the Jupiter approaching and ordering surrender. The Jose rammed the Jupiter with terrific force, dragging her aground at Europa Point, while members of the crew of the Jose machinegunned the Jupiter’s decks. The Jose grounded in the shallows of a village in Catalan Bay.” Two English and one French destroyers stood by and directed searchlights on the Jose, assisting her to land casualties. The wounded were admitted to hospital at Gibraltar. A member of the crew added: “I believe a torpedo hit the rebel sloop Calvosoteld, whir 1 ' *s not yet located.” The Canarias’ shelling of the Jose Luis Diez damaged two houses in Catalan Bay, injuring several pc nle, including the village policeman, tis understood that the Jose Luis Diez was damaged amidships, chiefly in the en-gine-room. BRITISH STEAMER BOMBED (Received 31st December, 10.35 a.m.) VALENCIA, 30th December. The British steamer Mirupanu was bombed in harbour and seriously damaged.