STEAMER SINKING

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20672, 10 March 1937, Page 9

STEAMER SINKING

FIRED ON BY UNKNOWN WARSHIP United Press Association— By Elpotrlc Telegraph - Copyright LONDON, March 8. Tire Admiralty states that an unknown steamer reports being fired on by an unknown warship in the Bay of Biscay. Four British destroyers are speeding thither. A Cork wireless operator picked up three S.O.S. signals, the latest message stating: “Fire aboard —sinking— come quickly.” EARLIER FEARS ALLAYED VESSEL IDENTIFIED AS SPANISH United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph —Copyright (Received March 9, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, March 8. The vessel earlier reported to have been bombarded and set on fire in the Bay of Biscay has now been identified as the Spanish motor vessel, Marcantabrico, which, laden with arms to: the Spanish Government, slipped out from New York on January 6, just in time to beat the United States Neutrality Act. Fears that she was a British vessel, which were aroused by early messages, were allayed shortly before midnight by the British Admiralty’s announcement that a report received from the destroyer Echo as follows:—“Have been in communication with the cruiser Canarias, which states that the Marcantabrico was sunk and her crew was aboard the Canarias.” While destroyers and many other vessels hurried towards the scene, conflicting messages from French and Spanish sources throughout the evening deepened the fear that a British liaei had been the victim of a rebel cruiser. The confusion apparently arose from the mutilation cf SOS messages. The Marcantabrico was owned by a Bilbao company. BRITAIN’S PROMPT ACTION CONVOY EXPERT RECALLED

United press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received March 9, 10.50 p.m.) LONDON, March 9. The naval correspondent of “The Dally Telegraph" says the Admiralty has recalled Paymaster Rear-Admiral Manisty from retirement in order -.o assist the shipping committee. He was largely responsible for the success of -he convoy system during the war time.