BOMBING OF SHIP.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 213, 9 August 1937, Page 7

BOMBING OF SHIP.

THE CAPTAIN’S STORY. IDENTIFIED AS REBELS. "ALGIERS. Aug. 7. The tanker British Corporal, which has arrived, reports that three monoplanes bombed her for an hour. “At 5.15 a.m. a terrific explosion awakened me,” said Captain Bovill. “I saw three aeroplanes dying low and dropping bombs fore and aft of the middle of the ship. Fortunately they all missed. Tiie ’planes came over a second time. They then dived down to 150 feet over the ship and opened a withering maeliine-gun fire as we were attempting to take to the boats. Several bullets struck the bridge. The crew rushed below and nobody was injured.”

A Government communique from Valencia states that the British Corporal and tiie Mongioia were bombed by General Franco’s ’planes in mistake for two Government ships traversing tiie sumo route which tiie rebel espionage service had reported. However, they had already reached port and were well protected. It is now learned that a third ship was machine-gunned from tho air yesterday. It was the French cargo boat Djebel Amour. As a result of the attacks, the Algiers seamen’s and dockers’ union is opposed to til© sailing of any vessels unless escorted by a warship. Captain Ferrito and the Dutch non-' intervention observer aboard tiie Mongioia are at present in hospital, the latter having an injured right arm. Neither is in a serious condition. It is stated that the black St. Andrew’s Cross with which the attacking ’planes were marked is one of the signs used by General Franco. It is carried on tiie rudders of the seaplanes of the rebel forces at the Morocco base. The cross is also nlainted with other Fascist emblems on the gun turrets of the rebel warships.

FRANCO’S DENIAL. NO ’PLANES NEAR SPOT. Received August 9, 10.5 a.m. SALAMANCA, Aug. 8. Genera] Franco’s headquarters deny that his ’planes have bombed foreign ships near the African coast. They state that no insurgent machines have ever flown over the area indicated. A message from Algiers says that an unnamed Greek steamer was attacked at almost the same spot as the British Corporal by a' ’plane bearing the same markings. r J wo bombs were dropped, but the vessel was not hit. All vessels leaving Algerian ports will be escorted cither by aircraft or warship.