INSURGENT SEA ACTIVITY

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20671, 9 March 1937, Page 7

INSURGENT SEA ACTIVITY

BASQUE TRAWLERS IN ACTION REPORTED SINKING OF SEVERAL VESSELS United Press Association—By Ei«>rtrla Telegraph—Copyright (Received March 8, 7.25 p.m.) ' BILBAO, March 7. Two armed Basque trawlers captured the merchantmen Yorkbrook. which allegedly contained an aeroplane and other war material, in spite of the fact that it was escorted by an insurgent cruiser from which a shell killed five and injured five of one trawler’s crew. LIKELY BATTLE AT SEA RIVAL FORCES COME INTO ACTION United Press Association —By Electric Tel egraph—Copyright (Received March 8. 11.56 p.m.) LONDON, March 8. The inhabitants of Bilbao watched a sea battle between a Government destroyer and several armed trawlers, merchantmen and the insurgent cruisers Canaries and Almlrante Cervera. Tire latter seized the Spanish steamer Galdames which the Government destroyed and the trawlers were attempting to save. The cruisers sank one trawler and holed another badly. The damaged destroyer then departed with the Galdames which has 140 passengers, including many militiamen and a cargo valued at £200,000. Including munitions and provisions. The passengers include a member of the Catalonian Cabinet. The total casualties are unknown. A message from Gibraltar states that the insurgent sea forces are very active. Armed trawlers forced the Norwegian steamers Breidablik ai d Erica to proceed to Ceuta to discharge cargoes of fruit. PLAN FOR CONTROL OF COASTS SERIOUS DELAY IN COMING INTO EFFECT United Press Association—By Electna Telegraph—Copyright (Received March 8, 7.30 p.m.) LONDON, March 7 It is understood that the French Ambassador (M. Corbin) proposed at the non-intervention sub-committee that March 13 be the new date that the control scheme should become operative, urging that at least a skeleton scheme, enabling land supervisors, deputies, chief naval supervisors and units to take up the task by that date.

It Is expected that the full committee will consider the suggestion on Monday, and also Germany’s objection to paying her full quota of the expenses amounting to £143,000,000 a year in negotiable currency. Lord Plymouth told the subcommittee that if the German attitude was not altered, Britain was not prepared to pay her share. Other countries .agreed to adopt a similar attitude, and the German representative undertook to consult the Government. ITALY’S NAVAL PLANS SIGNOR MUSSOLINI’S LATEST GESTURE United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received March 9, 1.50 a.m.) ROME, March 8. Immediately the Fascist Grand Council ends to-night Signor Mussolini embarks on a cruiser to superintend the massed fleet manoeuvres off the Libyan coast. Tiie plan has not been revealed, but it is significant that there is widespread discussion of the claim that Italy is able to close the passage from Gibraltar to the Suez at a moment’s notice, presumably via the Straits of Messina and the narrows between Sicily and Tunisia.