SHIP OF MYSTERY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 76, Issue 105, 6 May 1933, Page 11

SHIP OF MYSTERY

NEARLY LOST IN STORM GRANDEES OF OLD SPAIN Safe on friendly Portuguese soil after a thrilling escape on January 1 from the Spanish penal colony at Villa Cisneros, West Africa, 29 deportees, all grandees of old Spain, recently received permission from the Government to remain in Portugal as political exiles. They had landed at Cezimbra, a small fishing village 50 miles from Lisbon, in the darkness of the night, and. would say little as to the details of their amazing flight, which had kept Spain perplexed for a fortnight. Silently and mysteriously their small vessel disappeared into the darkness as soon as its human cargo had landed. The name of the boat and the flag it flies could not be learned. But when the deportees suddenly escaped it was rumoured that they had left in a‘ French vessel that had put into Villa Cisneros. The 29 grandees had been at sea for 14 days. At one time, it was said, their small ship was nearly lost in a storm.

Immediately after landing the party went on to Lisbon. Next day all were I busy communicating by telephone and

other means with their relatives in Spain, who, rejoicing at the news, are preparing to join the deportees in Lisbon.

Don Alfonso de Bourbon, cousin of the former king, who is apparently the leader of the group of escapees, was the only one to make a statement of any kind. He said that they had been warned by friends* that they would not stand a chance in their forthcoming trial for participation in the revolution of last August, and that, without counsel, they would probably be sentenced to death. 1 ‘The purpose of the revolution,” he said, “was not the restoration of the monarchy, but the salvation of Spain from Premier Azana.” It was added that living conditions at Villa Cisneros had been unbearable.

The grandees stated that they followed a zig-zag course, and covered 1800 miles, as they feared that Spanish warships might be in pursuit. When they arrived at Lisbon the 29 men were ragged, gaunt, and unshaven. The boat from which they landed was an undecked fishing smack of about 50 tons.