MORE WARSHIPS

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 195, 3 September 1937, Page 5

MORE WARSHIPS

-Press Assn.-

The Mediterranean BRITISH DECISION Unknown Submarine Sinks British Tanker t TORPEDO ATTACK

(By Telegraph-

-Copyright.'

(Received 3, 10.10 a.m.) LONDON, Sept. 2. Cabinet has deeided to send more destroyers to the Mediterranean. It has accepted the French proposals to discnss at Geneva on September 10 the security of shipping in the Mediterranean. To meet the meoiace of piraoy by air and soa off tlie Spanish coast the British Government is taking immediate steps to carry out its decision to strengthen the Fleet in' the western basin of the Mediterranean, but the number of vessels affected is at present uiilikely to be large. It is understood tlxat Mr Anthony Eden, Foreign Minister, will lead the British delegation to Geneva for discussion of the problem, in which, in addition to England, Franee, Turkey and Gi'eece are likely to participate. Egypt, too, may attend. Messages from Kome state that Italy has not yefc been invited but expects an invitation, which she will probably accept. As Russian ships have suffered heavily, the Soviet may desire to attend. An unknown submarine torpedoed tho British tanker Woodford, bound from Barcelona to yalencia, 18 miles from the Spanish coast. The gecond eagineer was killed and six of the crew were injured. They have been landed at Bonicarlo. The Woodford, a vessel of 6987 tons, was formerly owned hy Greeks and was recently bought by the newly-formed Finchley Steamship Co., which owns the Romford, vbich .was bombed on August 26. The Woodford, which was manned chiefly by foreigners^ was carrying fuel from Rumania to Barcelona, where it was unable to discharge. Accordingly the ship was going to Valencia. A Paris message says that tbe submarine was painted grey, with no iden-

tification marks. The Woodford sank within a few hours. This is the 18th attack on a British merchantman in the past month. Meanwhile, submarine outrages continue. Messages from Atliens report the sinking of the Soviet steamer Molakieff off Slcyros Island by a submarine which i-s reported to have koisted the Spanish insurgent flag. One of the crew was killed, but the rest reached land. The Molakieff was en route to France with a cargo of bitumen.