AGAINST PIRATES.

Wairarapa Age, 6 September 1937, Page 3

AGAINST PIRATES.

BRITISH PATROLS MORE DESTROYERS LEAVE' FOR MEDITERRANEAN. RUGBY, September 3. In accordance with the decision announced yesterday, the eleventh destroyer division of the sixth flotilla has been ordered' to sail to-day to reinforce the destroyer strength, of the commander is seeking permission to The vessels are the Fury and the Fortune from Portsmouth, and the Fortune and Firedrake from Chatham. The leaders of the sixth flotiUa and the twelfth division are on patrol off the northern coast of Spain. The present strength of the Mediterranean Fleet is as follows: Four capital ships, the battleships Barham (flagship of Admiral Sir Dudley Pound), and Malaya, and the battle-cruisers Hood and Renown; three heavy cruisers, London, Devonshire, Sussex; five cruisers, Delhi, Dispatch, Penelope, Galatea, and Arethusa; one aircraftcarrier, the Glorious; and destroyers, 24 organised in flotillas and 4 otherwise employed; other craft, 7 submarines, 6 motor torpedo-boats, 7 mine-sweepers, 1 net-layer, 4 depot, repair, and supply ships, 1 escort vessel, 1 mine-layer, 4 drifters, 1 tug, and 1 hospital ship.

1 In the western Mediterranean there are at present the following vessels:— The cruisers Galatea (flagship of RearAdmiral J. F. Somerville) and Penelope; destroyers, and flotilla leader Hardy and Hasty, Hotspur, Hostile, Havoek, Harward, Hero, Hyperion, and Vancoe, the last-named being an older type of destroyer stationed at Gibraltar.—(British Official Wireless.) PUBLIC APPROVAL. PRESS COMMENT 1 IN BRITAIN. RUGBY, September 3. The prompt measures decided upon at yesterday’s meeting of Ministers has been received with general approval, and satisfaction is also expressed at the Government’s acceptance of France’s proposal for a meeting of Mediterranean Powers. It is assumed that the meeting will take place at or near Geneva at the same time as the meeting of the Assembly of the Leage of Nations. Piratical attacks on merchantmen in the Mediterranean—one of the great highways of the world and more crowded with shipping of all nationalities than any other sea route except the English Channel —has aroused public feeling to a high pitch of indignation which reached a climax when the news .of the wanton and unprovoked attack on H.M.S. Havoek was received. It is recognised that the measures of self-defence by immediate counterattack enjoined upon the Fleet represent the obvious course of action to deal with pirates.

The ’’Morning Post,” discussing the torpedo attack on the Havoek, says: “It is not known under what flag this submarine was sailing or where she came from. But we do know that there were only a dozen submarines in commission in Spain, at the outbreak of the civil war. Of that number one has since been sunk and one disabled. Of the remainder, General Franco has one or two and the Spanish Government eight or nine. But the Spanish Government’s submarines are believed to be inactive, chiefly from lack of competent officers, and General Franco's original submarine force could hardly account for so many submarine attacks on merchant shipping at such widely separated points. Whatever is the explanation of this mystery we can only hope that it will be solved soon—as it may be when a British warship comes up with the culprit at his unlawful pr&ctices.”—(British Official Wireless.)

Britain Shaping Plans. SOME REPORTED DETAILS.

SECLUSION - OF STJ FLEETS.

PROPOSED INTERVENTION CONVOY.

LONDON, September 3.

The diplomatic correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph” says that the British anti-submarine plans are still confidential, but it is believed that they include provision for a joint international convoy and also an invitation to all the Mediterranean. Powers to register publicly and seclude in. their own dockyards all their submarines, after which every submarine found, in the Mediterranean shall be sunk at sight.

AIRCRAFT INCLUDED. COMBINED NAVAL HUNT.

PROTECTION OF MERCHANT SHIPS.

(Received Sunday, 7.45 p.m.) LONDON, September 4.

Britain and. France have further discussed anti-submarine proposals, which are expected to include the classification of both submarine and aerial attack as piracy, resulting in the offenders’ nationality and origin becoming irrelevant and enabling all navies to collaborate in hunting pirates attacking merchantmen, which are advised to keep to definite routes. ATTACK ON HAVOCK. SPANISH REBEL DISCLAIMER. (Received Sunday, 7.55 p.m.) SALAMANCA, September 5. An authoritative statement denies that an insurgent submarine attacked the Havoek, “whose gallant conduct is affecting many Spaniards and merits the Nationalists ’ highest consideration-” LOYALIST SUBMARINE. ARRIVAL AT FRENCH PORT. BORDEAUX, September 3. The Spanish Government submarine C 4 has arrived at Le Verdon. The commander is seeking prmission to Fleet in the western Mediterranean. French vessel is watching the submarine, pending instructions from Paris. INDIGNATION IN ITALY. NO INVITATION TO GENEVA CONFERENCE. ROME, September 3. The Press is indignant that Italy has not yet been invited to theGanavn Conference. It declares that the inclusion of Russia and the exclusion of Italy would be proof of British and French enmity.