SUNK BY ARMED TRAWLER

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21185, 4 November 1938, Page 9

SUNK BY ARMED TRAWLER

VESSEL GOES DOWN IN FLAMES Showei's of Shells Fall on Steamer Within Sight of Coast of England United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, November 2 The British steamer Monkwood has sent a radio message to the Admiralty stating that an armed auxiliary vessel, believed to be Spanish, is firing on a Spanish merchantman seven miles from the Cromer lightship off the coast of Norfolk. The merchantman is on fire. The gunfire shook windows at Crower, flashes were sifen seaward and excited crowds gathered on the tops of the cliffs. The merchantman’s name is given as Cartegena. The Monkwood’s radio stated that the auxiliary vessel, by means of a flag signal, ordered the Cartegena “to heave to or I fire." A lifeboat has left Cromer for the 1 scene and other vessels later rushed to the merchantman’s aid. Vessel Identified The Cartegena is not a listed vessel, but shippers believe that she might be the Spanish vessel Cantabria which left Gravesend yesterday from Immingham, on her way to Leningrad. The harbourmaster at Immingham stated that ax berth had been booked for the Cantabria in the evening, but there was no news of her. The steamer Glensheil is reported to be standing by the Cantabria and a short-wave listener states that he heard a report that 10 members of the crew had been picked up. A later message states that the Cromer lifeboat has re-entered the harbour with the captain of the Cantabria, his wife and two children. The remainder of the crew of 10 men were picked up by a British coastal vessel bound for London. The lifeboat reported that the Cantabria is derelict and deserted. The auxiliary vessel, which all reports refer to as a cruiser, has disappeared. The Admiralty stated that it did not order a warship to the scene and as it was outside the three mile limit no action can be taken. Casualties Suffered Another and still later message states that the Spanish Rebel motor vessel Nadir shelled for three hours off the Norfolk coast the Spanish steamer Cantabria, which is operated by the Mld-Atlantlc Shipping Company, London. The Cantabria was formerly the Alfonso Perez. No one was killed, but several were wounded. The Cantabria is now sinking. An Admiralty sloop stood off at a safe distance to ensure that neither vessel infringed the three mile limit. The Cantabria, formerly the Alfonso Perez, is a vessel of 5,649 tons register. She was built in Vancouver in 1919. ENGAGED IN NORMAL TRADE SHELLING DESCRIBED AS CRIMINAL Uniter* Press Association—By Electric Telegraph —Copyright (Received November 4, 12.5 a.m.) LONDON, November 3. The remainder of the Cantabria’s crew is believed to be aboard the Nadir which disappeared in the darkness after refusing to answer morse signals. C. L. Burbridge, director of the MidAtlantic Company said: “The whole thing is criminal. The Cantabria was unarmed and engaged in perfectly normal trade between Baltic ports and England and was en route to Immingham to bunker before going to Leningrad to load timber. DETAILS OF THE SHELLING SUDDEN AND TERRIFIC BOMBARDMENT United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received November 3, 7.35 p.m.) LONDON, November 2. The Cromer lifeboat put out and picked up the Cantabria’s skipper, Manuel Ardulles, his wife, his son, aged six, and daughter, aged eight, also a steward. Meanwhile the British steamer, Pattersonian, signalled the Great Yarmouth coastguard that she had 11 members of the crew of the Cantabria on board, whereupon a lifeboat was sent out and the men taken ashore. Captain’s Story Captain Ardulles in an interview said: “Passing into the North Sea we noticed we were being followed by what appeared to be an armed trawler. We kept on our course, but without warning the trawler opened a terrific bombardment. There were 45 on board the Cantabria, including eight of my family and relatives. Tne shells holed the hull and the ship began to list. We continued to send out SOS signals. The attacker had five guns all firing. A passing vessel later took off some members of the crew. One boatload was picked up Dy the Nadir. A member of the lifeboat crew said: “The attacker steamed off as we came up. We went close, but the crew yelled it was a Fascist ship and warned us not to approach." CAPTAIN’S GRAPHIC STORY SUNKEN SHIP LOCATED United Press Association—By Electrio Telegraph—Copyright (Received November 4, 1.40 a.m.) LONDON, November 3. “I shudder to think what will happen our shipmates aboard the Nadir,” declared Captain Ardulles, standing with his wife on the cliffs overlooking

the scene of the action. “It is difficult to outline the nightmare. It was a hot two and a half hours. Nothing would induce me to surrender. One shell shot away the bridge and smashed the wheel. The helmsman raced for his life. I had control of the ship when she was sinking and implored my wife to leave with the children to which she replied: ’I would rather die than be taken by the Insurgents.’ Mrs Ardulles, in Spanish, repeatedly said, “Terrible, terrible.”

The Cantabria has been located in 15 fathoms 10 miles from the coast. Numerous telegrams have been received by the crew of the Cromer lifeboat conveying the warmest praise of their gallantry. The steamer Pattersonian arrived at Gravesend. She was formerly an armed merchantman and sank a German submarine in the North Sea in wartime. FULL REPORT WANTED NO ACTION PROBABLE Independent Cable Service (Received November 4, 1.45 a.m.) LONDON, November 3 The Admiralty and Lloyd’s have called for a full report on the Cromer incident, but action will be most improbable.