UNHEARD-OF PROVOCATION

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 115, 1 June 1937, Page 7

UNHEARD-OF PROVOCATION

Spanish Bombing of German Ship (Eeceived I, 8.45 a;m.) BEELIN, May 31. A German wireless broadcast states that the Deutschland 's casualties are 20 dead and 73 wounded. Cabinet met after Herr Hitler had conferred at Muuich with the Foreign Minister, Baron von Neurath, and Admiral Kaeder, naval commander-in-chief, all three then flying to Berlin. Field-Marshal Blomberg and General Goering, Minister of Defence, were present. An official report issued subsequently stated: "Following a receut incident When Eed aeroplanes bombed English, German and Italian ships in harbour at Majorca, killing six Italian officers, German vessels were forbidden to call there. The Deutschland belongs to the international naval control forces. Nevertheless, it was suddenly bombed. between 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Saturday. The ship was stationary in Ibiza harbour, and the crew were unprotected in the foreeastle, inasmuch as the ship was not ready for action. A bomb fell in the middle of their quarters, and a second hit the quarterdeck, causing minor damage. The ship completely retained her fighting and navigable ability and went to Gibraltar in order to disembark the injured. She did not fire a smgle shot at the aeroplanes. "This fresh criminal attack, after the Valencia Government had twiee been warned, compels Germany to take ineasnres wbich will be communicated to the Non-Intervention Committee. The incident is scarcely credihle. Germany knows how to give a proper answer to this imheard-of provpcation by Spanish criminals."