Admiralty Silent On Move Of Cruiser Nigeria

Chronicle (Levin), 17 February 1948, Page 5

Admiralty Silent On Move Of Cruiser Nigeria

Received Monday. 7.0 p.m. LONDON, Feb. 16. . The Admiralty, eonfirming the eruisei- Xigeria's temporary withdrawal from the South Atlantic station, ndded that its destination was se nt. A Capetown message.says that. Ku hours yesterday ammunition w.'S .loaded into the Nigeria for whai her 800 crew believe will ha a 1'iish across the South Atlantic to meet the Argentine and Chilean naval demonstrations in the Falkland Islands Dependencies. Torpedoes with red warheads were slung ahoard for her six tuhes and her lockers \yere filled with shells 1'or her twelve six-ineh guns, eight four-inchers and 40 pompoms. The Nigeria can reach the Falklands area b}7 Friday. An Argentine two-cruiser s(|uadron should reach Deception Island on Thursclay or Friday. Security as tight as any in waitirne, was c.lamped dpwu . on the

■■ Nigeria 's movements as- soon. as her seeret sail'ing, orders. arrived. says the Daily Mail's Capetown correspondent. Members" of the crew on leave were htirriedly summoned to return and - the cruiser began raising steam. The Daily Telegraph's Capetown correspondent said it is presumed the Nig'eria's sudden sumr mons is connected with the dispute between Britain, Cliile and Argentina concerning the territory in the Falkland Islands Dependencies in the Antaretie. The 8000-tons oTiiser Nigeria was completed at Tyne -in July 1939. She is, one week 's steaming from the Falkland Dependencies and could cut two days off the tirne if she went full speed. -The Argentine 's newest cruiser La Argentina carries nine six-inci. guns. The Daily Telegraph's diploma ■ tic correspondent ' recall'ed th( Santiago report that . President Videla was about to visit Antartu lands which Chile claims, and- also the Buenos Aires message thal President Peron may meet him there- to discuss a "united lTont" in defence of their Antaretie claims.