ENDYMION'S FATE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22954, 4 February 1938, Page 9

ENDYMION'S FATE

SURVIVORS' STORY STRUCK BY TORPEDO RAPIDITY OF SINKING By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received February 3, 5.8 p.m.) BARCELONA. Feb. 2 The story of the torpedoing of the Endymion was told to-day by two of the survivors—the first mate of the vessel, Mr. Thomas Stenley, and the chief engineer, Mr. W. Wood, who are still in hospital. These officers said: "Our first warning was the wake, evidently of a submarine, 100 yards away. Shortly after that the torpedo struck the Endymion on the starboard bow. The crew ran to the bridge, where Captain Verano and his wife were already standing. "The Endymion sank so quickly that it was impossible to launch the lifeboats. Numbers of the crew jumped into tho water as she sank but most of them were dragged under by suction. "Four survivors, including two Spaniards, floated for 45 minutes before being rescued by a Spanish Government coastguard vessel."

BOMBED CIVILIANS PROHIBITION URGED EXPRESSION OF HORROR HOUSE OF COMMONS MOTION (Received February 3, 6.30 p.m.) LONDON. Feb. 3 After a strong speech by the Foreign Secretary, Mr. Eden, in a surprise debate, the House of Commons adopted without division a Labour motion as follows: "That, in the opinion of this House, growing horror at the aerial bombardment of defenceless civilians should bo expressed in an international agreement' to co-operate in its prohibition. The House urges the Government to exert its influence to this end." Mr. Eden indicated that the British Government intended to approach tho Powers and seek such an agreement. The Leader of the Opposition, Mr. C. It. Attlee, urged the Government to notify General Franco that further outrages against British subjects would be met by the confiscation of one or more of his ships. A message from Paris says it is authoritatively stated that the Spanish Republican Government has decided to cease all air reprisals immediately if the insurgents undertake to end aerial attacks.

RAIDS BY AIRMEN SPANISH OPEN TOWNS BRITAIN SEEKS CESSATION 'LONDON. Feb. 12 The British Government has approached both sides in Spain and offered its services in any move to produce an agreement leading to a reduction of tho danger to civil population from indiscriminate bombing from the air. The Foreign Office announces that France is supporting the move. Tho Basque Children's Committee considers that bombing of open towns makes it impossible to send children back from England. Moreover, parents of most of the refugees are either in France or in Government territory.

MORE ITALIAN TROOPS MR. EDEN'S STATEMENT LONDON. Feb. a Commenting on an earlier statement by the News Chronicle, the Foreign Secretary, Mr. Eden, stated, in tho House of Commons, that the Government had no information to tho,.effect that 50,000 Italian troops were ready to go to Spain.

DELEGATES TO CORTES FOREIGN REPRESENTATIVES BARCELONA, Feb. 2 Parliamentary delegations from Britain, France, Belgium, Yugoslavia, Norway and Sweden attended the Cortes (Parliament) Yesterday and were given a banquet after the meeting. The Britons included the Earl of Listowel, junior Whip of tho Labour Party in the House of Lords.