BRITAIN’S STERN PROTEST

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIV, Issue 21051, 1 June 1938, Page 9

BRITAIN’S STERN PROTEST

ALLEGED DELIBERATE BOMBING British Official Wireless (Received May 31, 6.30 p.m.) RUGBY, May 30. In the House of Commons in reply to a question on the bombing of the Thorphall off Valencia, Mr R. A. Butler (Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs) said that from the reports he had received he understood the Thorphall had been attacked by an aeroplane which dropped two bombs. One struck the vessel which sank half an hour later. From the fact that the ship was lying well away from the harbour, and had been reconnoitred by a similar plane on the previous evening, Britain considered the Thorphall had been the victim of a deliberate attack. The British Minister, Sir Robert Hodgson, had been instructed to bring the incident to the notice of the Burgos authorities and request that strong disciplinary action be taken against the crew of the offending aircraft. Sir Robert Hodgson had been further instructed to impress upon the Burgos authorities the serious view taken by Britain of the repetition of deliberate attacks on British shipping, and to request that immediate instructions be given that such attacks should cease. Britain had reserved the right to claim full compensation for the loss or damage to persons and property, resulting from this attack.