BOARDED BY REBELS

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 47, 11 March 1937, Page 5

BOARDED BY REBELS

— Press Assn.-

Mar Cantabrico's Crew Shot Without Mercy SURVIV0R 'S ST0RY

(By Telegraph-

-Copyright.)

(Received 11, 8.45 a.m.) LONDON, March 10. The elaborate precautione taken for the safe arrival of the Mar Cantabrico were defeated by the still more remarkable secret service organisation under General Franco's control combined with the stupidity of the loyalist authorities at Santander. These, for an undisclosed reason, i-efrained from signalling the , steamer that she could enter the harbour, resulting in her aimlessly cruising about outside and eventually becoming a victim to the Canarias, The Mar Cantabrico, far from having snnk in flames, is still afloat with the fire extinguished and is being eseorted to Fehrol, a rebel port in north-west Spain. The Canarias had exact informa-s tion of the Mar Cantabrico' s movements and was apprised of her disguiaing herself by way of camouflage as the Newcastle 6teamer Adda. The final elements in the mystery were cleared up' when Pablo Juan Boo, one of the Mar Oantabrico's crew arrived at Arcachon after being picked up by a Freneh trawler. Boo told how the vessel arrived of Santander on Monday and was denied entry for twelve hours, when G)e Canarias hove in sight and began a bombardment lasting for four hours, giving a bad list to the Mar Cantabrico and causing a fire in the hold. Boo stated: "The rebels boarded us and took off the passengers and then things began to happen. No quai'ter wasgiven. The rebels pursued the crew in all corners of the ship and shot them down. An Italian and I hid and by a miracle we were not discovered. "I shall never forget the sharp bark of revolvers. Each shot meant anotber of our oomrades was hurled to eternity. Finally the Italian and I jumped overboard. The rebels fired at us in tbe water. The Italian was no swimmer and slipped from my grasp and disappeared. I had given up hope when hauled aboard by the Freneh fishermen."