AN OCEAN DRAMA

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23648, 4 November 1938, Page 11

AN OCEAN DRAMA

SPANISH VESSEL ON FIRE OFF THE COAST OF NORFOLK ATTACKED BY REBEL SHIP (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright! (Independent Cable Service.) , LONDON, Nov. 2. The British steamer Monkwood sent a radio message to the Admiralty stating that an armed auxiliary vessel, which is believed to be Spanish, is firing on a Spanish merchantman seven miles from Cromer 1 lightship, off the coast of Norfolk. The merchantman is on fire. Gunfire shook the windows at Cromer, and flashes were seen out to sea. Excited crowds gathered on the cliff tops. The merchantman’s name was given as Cartegena, The Monkwood’s radio stated that the auxiliary ship, by means of a flag signal, ordered the Cartegena to “ heave to or 1 will fire.” A lifeboat left Cromer for the scene, and other vessels later rushed to the merchantman’s aid. The Cartegena is not listed, but shippers believe she might be the Spanish vessel Cantabria, which left Gravesend yesterday for Immingham, en route to Leningrad. The harbour master at Immingham stated that a berth was booked for the Cantabria in the evening, but there was no news of her. The steamer Glensheil is reported to be standing by the Cantabria. A short-wave listener states that he heard a report that 10 of the crew were picked up. ALL THE CREW SAVED THE VESSEL DESERTED (Independent Cable Service.) LONDON. Nov. 2. The Cromer lifeboat re-entered the harbour with the captain, his wife and two children, and the remainder of the crew. Ten men were picked up by a British coastal vessel bound for London. The lifeboat reported that the Cantabria was derelict and deserted. The auxiliary, which all reports refer to as a cruiser, has disappeared. The Admiralty stated that it did not order a warship to the scene, as the incident was outside the threemile limit, and no action could be taken. » TERRIFIC BOMBARDMENT VESSEL GIVEN NO WARNING LONDON, Nov. 2. (Received Nov. 3, at 8 p.m.) The Cromer lifeboat put out and picked up the Cantabria’s skipper, Manuel Ardulles, his wife and son, aged six, and his daughter, aged eight. A steward was also picked up. Meanwhile the British steamer Pattersonian signalled to the Great Yarmouth coastguard that she had 11 members of the crew of the Cantabria aboard, whereupon the lifeboat was sent out and the men taken ashore. Captain Ardulles, in an interview, said: “When we were passing into the North Sea we noticed we were being followed by what appeared to be an armed trawler. We kept on our course, but without warning the trawler opened a terrific bombardment. There were 45 people aboard the Cantabria, including eight of my family and relatives. Shells holed the hull and the ship began to list. We continued to send out an SOS. The attacker had five guns, all firing. A passing vessel later took off some members of the crew. One boatload was picked up by the Nadir.” A member of the lifeboat crew said that the attacker “ steamed off as we came up. We went close, but the crew yelled that it was a Fascist ship and warned us not to approach.” EXCITEMENT ON THE COAST HOUSES SHAKEN BY GUNFIRE LONDON, Nov. 2. (Received Nov. 3, at 5.5 p.m) Several other ships raced to the scene after the shelling. The Ronan discovered the attacker standing by, but she did not reply to a Morse signal. The greatest excitement . was caused on the coast, where houses were shaken for hours through the gunfire. The Spanish Embassy, in a statement, said the attacker was probably one of General Franco’s trawlers, which was known to have gone to Germany in order to be fitted with gups. She was returning to the Mediterranean from Hamburg. The Daily Telegraph’s naval correspondent says Britain could not take any action because the shelling was outside the three mile limit. Official circles consider this is a prelude to a new Franco campaign to intercept Government vessels on the high seas. If activities are confined to such ships no objection can be raised. A CRIMINAL ATTACK ENGAGED IN NORMAL TRADE LONDON, Nov. 3. (Received Nov. 4, at 1 a.m.) The remainder of the Cantabria s crew is believed to be aboard the Nadir, which disappeared into the darkness after refusing to answer morse signals. Mr C. L. Burbridge said that the whole thing was criminal The Cantabria was unarmed and engaged in a perfectly normal trade between Baltic ports and England. She was en route to Immingham to bunker before going to Leningrad to load timber. CASE OF DETAINED VESSEL APPEAL COURT’S JUDGMENT LONDON, Nov. 2 Giving judgment in the Arantzazo Mendi case, the Appeal Court held General Franco’s Government to be a foreign sovereign State, and immune from legal process in Britain

A message received on October 31 stated;—The Daily Herald reports that General Franco told the British Foreign Office that he will close all his ports to British shipping in the event of an adverse judgment of the Apneal Court in the case of the steamer Arantzazo Mendi, which will decide the fate of 14 other rebel ships detained by Britain at the request of the loyalist Government.

The demand implies recognition of rebel Spain as a sovereign State, thus strengthening General Franco’s claim to belligerent rights.