FOOD SHIPS AT BILBAO

Southland Times, Issue 23182, 24 April 1937, Page 7

FOOD SHIPS AT BILBAO

British Vessels Run Blockade SUCCESSFUL NIGHT JOURNEY CLOSE CONTACT MAINTAINED (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright) (Received April 24, 12.29 a.m.) BILBAO, April 23. The British food ships Hamsterley, MacGregor and Stanbrock, which sailed from St. Jean de Luz with all lights out, arrived safely. Further details from St. Jean de Luz state that Captain “Corncob” Jones, commander of the freighter MacGregor was confident overnight that he would emulate Captain “Potato” Jones in delivering a cargo of flour and dried beans. The Stanbrock was not fitted with wireless and kept close contact with the others in case of emergency All obtained the Control Committee’s certificates that they were not carrying wax- material and the trio weighed anchor at 11.30 p.m. The Hood thereupon exchanged signals with the flotilla leader Faulknor and left seawards an hour later, assumedly to follow the blockade runners for which three Bilbao pilots arrived by air yesterday. MADRID AGAIN SHELLED HEAVY CASUALTY ROLL MADRID, April 22. For the eleventh day in succession the insurgents heavily shelled the capital, between 200 and 300 eight-inch shells falling daily. Twenty fell in an afternoon around Granvia scattering the funeral procession accompanying yesterday’s dead to the cemetery. The casualty roll is now 200 killed and 250 injured in eleven days. The North American Newspaper Alliance special author, Mr Ernest Hemingway who is at present in Madi’id, declares that these heavy indiscriminate bombardments have no military objective. Despite the sight of the dead and the wounded and men hosing the streets, washing away the debris and the blood, the people are not impressed. They scatter to avoid the bombardment and return to their employment when the shelling ceases and the trams recommence running The loyalists claim that they routed the insurgents near Durango with the loss of 600 killed and 1000 wounded. The Government offensive in the Cordoba sector is strongly pressing the rebels of whom an entire company of 170 n.c.o.’s and men deserted and entered the loyalist lines after murdering theix 1 officers. MR LLOYD GEORGE’S SUPPORT ANOTHER FOOD SHIP CHARTERED LONDON, April 22. “I, too, am a Basque, as was Marshal Foch. The Welsh and Basques are the same race,” said Mr Lloyd George, whose contribution of £250 towards another food ship, probably sailing for Bilbao on April 24, was announced by the House of Commons member, Mr Wilfred Roberts, who states that Captain Russell, master of the Backworth, at present lying at Immingham, met Mr Lloyd George and a Basque representative. The Backworth was chartered by various organizations arranging to send medical supplies and food. Another £2OOO worth is required to complete the cargo. The Backworth may bring back women and children suffering from lack of food. A mother of three children was recently evacuated aboard a British destroyer, but died of heart failure owing to starvation. The instructions which have been issued by the United Kingdom Government to British shipowners regarding ships going to Bilbao are to the effect that the Government is not in a position to advise ship owners that their ships are able to enter the port of Bilbao. Regarding other ports such as Santander and Gijon the Government advised ship owners that there is a certain degree of risk and as that risk varies from day to day they cannot give any long-term advice. In. any event his Majesty’s ships will afford protection on the high seas if called upon. The Spanish Government has replied to the representations by Britain. It says: “We will not use poison gas unless the other side does.” The insurgents have not replied.