LITTLE FEAR OF BLOCKADE

Southland Times, Issue 23181, 23 April 1937, Page 7

LITTLE FEAR OF BLOCKADE

Vessels Bound For Bilbao REBEL MINES ONLY DANGER BRITISH NAVAL CONVOY TO THREE-MILE LIMIT (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright) (Received April 22, 7.5 pm.) LONDON, April 21. The Admiralty has decided to convoy to the three-mile line outside Bilbao two merchantmen, the MacGregor (Captain Owen Jones) and the Hamsterley (Captain Still), which is now in St. Jean de Luz (France). Captain Roberts’s achievement m running the blockade in the Seven Seas’ Spray has obviously fired Captain Jones and Captain Still to emulation. The St Jean de Luz correspondent of The Times Says that now the assembly of steamers bound for northern Spanish ports has begun, including the Pegasus (Greek), the Stanbrook (British) and the Stassos (British) These movements coincide with the skippers’ conviction that the rebel blockade is ineffective as far as mines are concerned, the only danger being from cruisers; but other vessesl have shown that these can be dodged. The insurgents broadcast to foreign governments from Burgos that they intend to mine all ports in possession of the Spanish Government. The Dean of Canterbury (Dr Hewlett Johnson) has issued an appeal for £lO,OOO to enable a Cardiff owned steamer to go to Bilbao with food within 10 days. The Leader of the Independent Labour Party (Mr James Maxton) and the secretary (Mr A. Fenner Brockway) were unable to take an option to purchase a steamer to send food tn Spain, in accordance with their announced plan. A food cargo has been bought and it will be shipped immediately another vessel can be obtained. The First Lord of the Admiralty (Sir Samuel Hoare) was again asked in the House of Commons about protection for British merchant shins proceeding to Bilbao. He repeated the assurances he had already given, the House in answer to questions and in debate, and made it clear that General Franco had been warned that he would be held responsible for any damage done to such ships. Asked about'the seizure by the Spanish insurgents of two Spanish ships carrying British-owned cargo and a cargo of iron ore destined for England, the Foreign Secretary (Mr R. A. Eden) replied that the insurgent authorities had agreed in one case to hand over the cargo to the British authorities. The British Ambassador (Sir Henry Chilton) was renewing representations in the other case. H.M.S. Royal Oak will sail from Devonport on April 24 to relieve H.M.S. Hood, which will return to Portsmouth to prepare for the naval review.

INTENSE ARTILLERY FIRE AIR REVERBERATES TO ROAR OF BATTLES LONDON, April 21. The returji.of fine weather has resulted in the air reverberating to the roar of battle, west of Bilbao. Rebel planes sprayed a Government position on the hill sides, after which massed batteries roared into action, including new German heavy guns, while rebel cruisers bombarded the shore batteries. Batteries situated in the Casa del Campo, Madrid, fired 300 shells at the capital, killing 25 persons and wounding 60. The Government claims that bombers set fire to an insurgent arms factory at Toledo and that it is blazing fiercely. The Marquesa Torecilla when informed of the death of his third son to be killed in action insisted on seeing the body. He exclaimed: “That is how . a true Spaniard should die. lam proud ■ I offered him to Spain.” FILM ACTOR ACCUSED : OF “INTERVENTION” i MONEY FOR LOYALISTS | (Received April 22, 7.5 p.m.) HOLLYWOOD, Apri? 21. The “Knights of Columbus” have announced that they are investigating the alleged radical activities of Errol Flynn, the film actor. The allegations are based on an interview at Barcelona ostensibly saying that Flynn, Frederick March and James Cagney had raised 1,500,000 dollars in 3 Hollywood for the loyalists. Flynn has < since denied this. • IRAQI ARmFfOR BOTH < SIDES 1 DIPLOMATS TO BE DISMISSED BAGHDAD, April 20. The Prime Minister (Hikmat Sulieman) has informed Parliament of the j dismissal of the Iraqi Legation councillors at Berlin and Paris—Abdul Azis al Mudhaffar and Musa Al Shabundar—for respectively unauthorizedly de- g spatching arms in the name of the Iraq a Government to the lo.valis! and rebel v governments in Spain Both will be q prosecuted after their return to Iraq.