PORTUGUESE MUTINY

Evening Star, Issue 22440, 10 September 1936, Page 9

PORTUGUESE MUTINY

DESIRE TD ASSIST SPANISH REBELS TROUBLE QUICKLY SUPPRESSED Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright LISBON, September 9. The cause of the Portuguese mutiny was the desire of portion of the crews to assist the Spanish Government against the rebels by sailing to Malaga and Valencia, loyalist naval strongholds, and there handing over a destroyer and a sloop, the Dao and the Alfonso de Albuquerque. The Minister of Marine learned of the plot and despatched an officer to arrest the ringleaders on the Alfonso, who greeted him with machine gun fire at the gangway. He and his escort hastened to other warships in the Tagus and found all loyal. Meanwhile the mutineers drove the officers below at the point of the revolver. The Minister then ordered the forts to fire at any naval vessel leaving the harbour. Fir© was accordingly opened as the mutineers were seen slipping the cables at daybreak. The Alfonso made headway, bringing down merciless shell-fire, direct hits throwing her out of control. She ran aground and hoisted the white flag. Government forces boarded her, arrested the mutineers, and discouraged those who were trying to escape in boats by machine-gunning them. The Dao was caught in the crossfire of two forts and surrendered to boarding parties. Loyalists released the imprisoned officers, enabling them to join in the fervent demonstrations of loyalty to the Ministry of Marine. Twelve were killed and 20 wounded. The ringleader, a sailor aboard the Dao, committed suicide when the mutiny failed. Both ships were badly damaged and are being repaired.

The Government announces the dismissal of both ships’ companies, irrespective of guilt or innocence, and will reinstate those who are able to prove that they resisted the mutiny. The remainder will be sent to a penal colony. The state of tho discipline aboard the sloop Bartolomeo Diaz will also be investigated-