AIR ATTACKS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23072, 24 June 1938, Page 11

AIR ATTACKS

TWO SHIPS SUNK BOMBED OFF SPAIN BRITISH CREW'S ORDEAL THREE HOURS IN WATER DECK MACIIINE-GDNNED By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright, LONDON, Juno 22 The British steamer Thorpeness and the Greek steamer Sunion were bombed and sunk by rebel airmen in an early morning raid, says a message from Valencia. The Thorpeness had been bombed on January 20 at Tarragonna, when seven members of the crew'were killed. Captain C. 1?. Mode, skipper of tho Thorpeness, in an interview, snid: "I was standing on tlio bridge when an aeroplane swooped down and a bomb hit us amidships, shattering the portside boat and rippng out tho steamer's side. "Twenty-five members of tho crew scrambled into tho other boat. "\Vith tho remainder of tho men I leapt into the water. We had lifebelts and swam for three hours. Then the Sunion picked us up and sot us ashore. "1 had scarcely landed when the Sunion was struck. It is an outrage that after bombing us the aeroplane circled over the Thorpeness and machine-gunned tho docks. "The Thorpeness was anchored miles from the wharves preparatory to unloading a cargo of grain. A Chinese member of the crew is missing." More than 100 bombs wore dropped on Barcelona early this morning and there were heavy casualties in the working class districts.