BOMBING OF ITALIAN SHIP.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 57, Issue 255, 9 August 1937, Page 5

BOMBING OF ITALIAN SHIP.

DEATH OF THE CAPTAIN. EXTENSIVE DAMAGE CAUSED. (United Press Association—-Copyright (Received This Day, 10.45 a.m.) ALGIERS, August 8. Bruin, the non-intervention observer aboard the Mongioia, the Italian vessel that was bombed at' the same time as the British Corporal, reports that a rebel tnree-engined seaplane dropped bombs, the second of which fell close to the hull, and lifted the vesseL like a cork, buckled the plates, twisted the rails, knocked holes in the hull, tore up the enginerooln floor, and wrenched the engine from its bed. Captain Solari succumbed to his injuries and his body will be sent to Italy. BOMBING OF BRITISH SHIP.

FORTY AERIAL TORPEDOES. ALGIERS, August 6. The Admiralty has called for a report from the British Consul on the bombing of the British Corporal. Captain J. H. Bovill said that the planes looked like Italian Capronis. Splinters collected from the deck after arrival at Algiers allegedly show that bombs were of German manufacture. The planes dropped forty aerial torpedoes, and the concussions put the ship’s wireless out of action. Captain Bovill said; “At 5.15 a.m. a terrific explosion awakened me. I saw three aeroplanes flying low and dropping bombs fore and aft, and at the middle of the ship. Fortunately all missed. The aeroplanes came over a second time, and then dived down until they were 150 feet above the ship and opened a withering machine-gun fire as we were attempting to take to the boats. Several bullets crashed into my cabin and others struck the bridge. The crew rushed below. Nobody was injured.” It is stated that the black St. Andrew’s Cross, with which the attacking aeroplanes were marked, is one of the signs used by General Franco. It is carried on the rudders of seaplanes of the rebel forces, and is based on the Morocco cross. It is also painted, with other Fascist emblems, on the gun turrets of rebel warships. Captain Ferrito and the Dutch nonintervention observer aboard the Mongioia are at present in hospital, the latter being injured in the right arm. Neither is in a serious condition. A third ship was machine-gunned from the air yesterday. It was the French cargo boat Djebel Amour. ATTACK BY MISTAKE. GOVERNMENT SHIPS IN SAME AREA. VALENCIA, August 7. A Government communique states that the British Corporal and the Mongioia were bombed by General Franco s ’planes in mistake for two Government ships traversing the same route, which were reported by the rebel espionage service, but which had already reached port well protected.